International oil firms, or IOCs, have stated that they are not truly divesting when they sell off their assets; rather, they are only shifting offshore to hide their operations from Nigerians, according to Environmental Rights Action, Friends of the Earth Nigeria, or ERA/FoEN.
The rights organization also stated that the IOCs must leave the ecosystem in the same state that they found it, even if they relocate offshore.
ERA/FoEN Executive Director Chima Williams raised these issues during a discussion titled “Time for a Legislative Pathway on IOC Divestment in the Niger Delta.”
In response to a query on why ERA/FoEN is specifically opposed to the IOC’s divestment process, he clarified that it is preferable for the oil firms to go because, after more than 50 years of oil extraction, the communities have not developed in any meaningful way.
“Divestment simply means selling off property to run away,” claims Chima. However, quitting is not the answer.
If the IOCs are able to ask, “What went wrong? “What can we do before we leave?” is fine. They cannot simply depart because of the issues they have caused.
“Among many other bad things, they have shortchanged the governments, ruined the environment, and incited animosity between brothers.
We thus looked into this divestment and found that these IOCs are staying in Nigeria. All they’re doing is shifting offshore to hide their operations from Nigerians.
When questioned about the conditions on the ground, the ERA ED discussed the impact of gas flaring among other things.
“In certain places, it is always daylight,” he remarked. The people’s right to nighttime darkness is violated. In the shadows, people reflect, medications function, and the body relaxes.
Additionally, because they are constantly exposed to CO2, their eyes are red, and nothing grows for meters around the flare while it is horizontal.
People in the Niger Delta had to painfully wade across oil spills in order to get daily bread.
Chima Williams stated that as a result, these atrocities need to be addressed before any IOC departs from its operational region in favor of offshore facilities.
He pointed out that the issues left behind by divesting cannot be resolved by the Nigerian companies purchasing the IOCs’ assets.