By Ediri Ejoh

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, raised alarm, yesterday, over alleged attempt by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, to evade cleanup of Ogoniland as recommended by United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, report.

In a statement, the Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Godwin Ojo, insisted that Shell be stopped from evading the implementation of the UNEP report and ordered to commence immediate clean up and remediation of the Niger Delta by the establishment of the $100 billion restoration fund.

“Shell must be held accountable for the decades  of its environmental rights abuses in Ogoni and the entire Niger Delta. Aside halting this backdoor deal, officials of the company said to have a stake in Belema Oil must also be investigated to determine how much they have done to frustrate the implementation of the UNEP report through their Shell-run oil company that seeks to put potential profit first before people and the environment.”

He noted that Shell had sold its oil blocks in Ogoniland to Belema oil, and drilling was set to commence as the company had reached agreement with some community chiefs, who were being used to collate signatures endorsing  the sale of the oil in Ogoniland.