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The petition, addressed to the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, calls on the government to uphold its refusal to permit Shell’s divestment of onshore oil fields to Renaissance African Energy.
The Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre, along with over 170 local and international organizations, has petitioned the Nigerian government to resist pressure from oil multinational Shell to overturn a decision made by President Bola Tinubu.
The petition, addressed to the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, calls on the government to uphold its refusal to permit Shell’s divestment of onshore oil fields to Renaissance African Energy.
Meanwhile, HEDA and 175 other organizations sent copies of the letter to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as the International Corruption Unit of the National Crime Agency (UK), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Justice, and other relevant bodies.
Renaissance African Energy, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) registered in the British Virgin Islands and controlled by unknown individuals, was reportedly seeking to acquire Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
However, the government’s decision was based on an assessment by S&P Global, an international assessor hired by the NUPRC to evaluate proposals from international oil companies divesting from Nigerian onshore operations.
While NUPRC has approved proposals by Eni-Oando and Equinor-Project Odinmim, it has remained silent on the Shell-Renaissance deal, which, according to HEDA, indirectly confirms the rejection recommended by S&P Global.
The assessment reportedly raised several red flags concerning Shell’s divestment plan.
Olanrewaju Suraju, speaking on behalf of HEDA and the other organizations, emphasized the importance of maintaining the decision to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security and ensure transparency in oil sector transactions.
According to HEDA, members of the coalition have been closely monitoring developments and alarmed by reports of alleged pressure from Shell on government officials to disregard S&P Global’s findings.
While HEDA makes no direct accusations of inducement, the organization emphasizes that these claims warrant serious investigation. The coalition has already reported the matter to relevant regulatory and investigative authorities.
Suraju said, “The coalition is calling for the immediate public release of the S&P Global report on proposed divestment of SPDC, which was commissioned using public funds. NUPRC has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in this process.
“HEDA, alongside its coalition partners will continue to monitor this issue closely and pursue all necessary legal and prosecutorial actions to uphold justice and environmental protection in Nigeria.”
Some of the civil society coalition members include the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Ijaw Elders Forum Lagos, Policy Alert, Urhobo Oil-Producing Communities Forum, and Corner House.
They also include Friends of the Earth International, Polluters Pay, Centre for International Environmental Law, Indigenous Environmental Network, Hawkmoth, Global Justice Ecology Project, Oil Change International, Oil & Gas Action Network, Alliance for Climate Frontline Communities, Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action), Re:common, Fridays for the Future, and Greenpeace Africa, Women from the Mountain, and System Change not Climate Change.
