Shell admits mistakes in Niger Delta

Sun News

16 October 2011

Shell admits mistakes in Niger Delta

•Dutch govt culpable too –MP

From Daniel Alabrah, Rotterdam

Anglo-Dutch multinational oil giants, Shell, has shockingly expressed regrets over its activities in the Niger Delta, saying it made mistakes it is now trying to correct. Shell’s Strategy Relations Manager, Mr. Barnaby Briggs, admitted this on Friday night at the Niger Delta Post-Amnesty Conference held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

It was organised by the Comrade Sunny Ofehe-led Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC).

It was a night in which the twin partnership of Shell and the Netherlands government came under spotlight, with a member of the Dutch Parliament, Sharon Gesthuizen, saying the Netherlands government cannot extricate itself from the firm’s unwholesome activities in Nigeria’s main oil and gas producing region.

“Shell recognises the tragedy of oil in Nigeria. We know we made mistakes in the Niger Delta and we have resolved to make amends. In the last few months, there has been improvement in the situation in the region in terms of oil production. “Shell believes now is the time to use the opportunity as a catalyst for change and we are going to work with non-governmental organisations to make improvements in the region,” Mr. Briggs said.