Mgbuodo is a small rural community in Rumuekpe clan in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State. Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) began activities in the Community in 1963 with four production locations. The inhabitants are poor and their community is highly undeveloped. An estimated 90 percent of the rural population depends solely on farming and fishing for their livelihoods. |
| Name of conflict: | Shell, Rumuekpe Clan Soaked in Crude Oil, Nigeria |
| Country: | Nigeria |
| State or province: | Rivers State |
| Location of conflict: | Mgbuodo community in Rumuekpe clan in Emuoha Local Government Area |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Oil and gas exploration and extraction Pollution related to transport (spills, dust, emissions) |
| Specific commodities: | Crude oil |
| Project details | |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Start of the conflict: | 28/08/2002 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) from Netherlands Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from Nigeria |
| Relevant government actors: | Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Environmental Rights Action, Social Action |
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Landless peasants Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Trade unions Local scientists/professionals Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Street protest/marches Occupation of buildings/public spaces |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Oil spills, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality Potential: Genetic contamination, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment Potential: Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
| Project Status | Unknown |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Migration/displacement Under negotiation |
| Development of alternatives: | -SPDC should take immediate steps to halt the spill, clean the mess, and overhaul its aged facility to forestall and further recurrence -Shell should send relief materials and pay compensation to the affected people. -The Company should demonstrate corporate responsibility and good citizenship accept their liability and avoid corporate deceit and arrogance in the Niger Delta. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The Spill has caused deplorable environmental destruction and exposed people to real threat of hunger, disease and untold hardship. Shell has not shown any genuine intention to either stop the spill or clean the impacted area, despite its consequences on the rural economy, ecology and people. |
| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Contributor: | Godwin Uyi Ojo |
| Last update | 08/04/2014 |