BY Emma Amaize in The Netherlands
ROTTERDAM— FOLLOWING the outrage against Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, weekend, at an international conference in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, over its harsh operations in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the Dutch Government has finally agreed to dialogue with the multinational oil company to amend its way.

Head, Horn of Africa, East and West Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands, Mr. Michiel Bierkiens, stated this while reacting to criticism of Shell by Nigerians, Dutch citizens and other stakeholders at a one-day summit organised by the Hope for Niger-Delta Campaign, a non-governmental organisation, led by Mr. Sunny Ofehe in Rotterdam.

Strategic Business Manager, Shell, Mr. Barnabas Briggs, agreed that “pollution in the Niger Delta was wrong and a tragedy,” adding that Shell recognised the tragedy of oil exploration in Nigeria.

Shell, which is the biggest oil company operating in the Niger Delta, has its international headquarters in The Hague. That is where most of the important decisions affecting its policies in Nigeria are taken.

Bierkiens, who listened to the grievances against Shell, said the Dutch Government would dialogue with Shell on the issues raised by the stakeholders and would be as frank as possible “to see how we can work together to develop Niger Delta.”

He said: “We, (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands) will not be afraid to voice the issues raised by the people; issues of responsibility. We also feel that we are part of the stakeholders and will try, even though people think we are not doing enough.”

Shell representative at the conference, Mr. Briggs, noted that the situation at the moment was “quite good” for oil production in the Niger Delta region.