Niger Delta Rights Activist, Ozobo Austin, Challenges Shell’s Claims on Oil Spills

Ozobo Austin, a prominent Niger Delta rights and environmental activist, has strongly refuted Shell Petroleum Development Company’s claims that oil theft is the primary cause of oil spills in the region. In a pointed critique, Ozobo argued that the true causes of the spills are the aging infrastructure, daily oil exploration activities, and system failures, rather than oil theft.

The activist noted that with the involvement of Tantita Security Service Limited and other local security firms monitoring the oil pipelines, oil theft has been significantly reduced. “It’s absurd for Shell to keep sounding false alarms about oil theft affecting daily oil output when the reality on the ground is different,” he remarked.

Ozobo accused certain officials within the oil companies in the Niger Delta of being the real culprits behind oil theft, citing the exploitation of faulty metering systems, illegal barging, and under-reporting of daily production output. He stressed that local oil bunkering and related activities have been largely curtailed over the past three years, contradicting Shell’s narrative.

“The majority of oil spills in the Niger Delta are due to the deteriorating condition of Shell’s infrastructure, including pipelines, flow stations, and other facilities,” Ozobo stated. “Years of neglect and a lack of investment in maintenance have led to frequent system failures, causing severe environmental damage and harm to our communities.”

Ozobo argued that Shell’s focus on oil theft as the main cause of spills was a diversion from the company’s own negligence and failure to maintain accountability. He pointed out that some of Shell’s facilities in the Niger Delta are among the oldest in the world, with certain pipelines dating back to the 1960s.

“It’s unacceptable for Shell to continue blaming oil theft for its own shortcomings. The company must take responsibility for its actions and invest in upgrading its infrastructure to prevent these spills. Our communities deserve more than to have their lives and livelihoods constantly endangered by Shell’s negligence,” he added.

Ozobo also called on the federal government to investigate oil theft within the oil companies, as well as among security and government officials who may be conspiring to under-report actual daily production and load more barrels than recorded. “It’s time to stop blaming local communities and address the real issues of aging infrastructure and system failures,” he urged, advocating for greater transparency and accountability in the oil industry.

His statement underscores the need for a thorough investigation into the root causes of oil theft and spills, rather than scapegoating local communities.