Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) will pay over $16 million (N7.14bn) to communities in Niger Delta states that were affected by multiple oil pipeline leak, IgbereTV reports
A statement from the oil company on Friday said that it was being given on the basis of “no admission of liability”.
Shell decided to reached an agreement after it lost in a court case recently in Netherlands that pronounced that its Nigerian branch of Shell was responsible for the damage.
Although it initially tried to appeal, arguing that the spillage was as a result of sabotage but after negotiation with campaign group, Friends of the Earth it agreed to pay compensation.
The four farmers who began the case – Barizaa Dooh, Elder Friday Alfred Akpan, Chief Fidelis A Oguru and Alali Efanga – said the leaks from underground oil pipelines had cost them their livelihoods by contaminating land and waterways.
Efanga and Dooh have died since the case was first filed, so their sons pursued the case instead
