RESOLUTIONS AT THE 3RD PEOPLES AGM HELD ON MAY 20, 2024, IN WARRI, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

The 3rd Peoples AGM was convened by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) on May 20, 2024, in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. The event had in attendance 45 participants drawn from the leadership of key civil society organization from the Niger Delta including representatives of Women, youths’ groups, religious groups from host communities and the media.

The Peoples AGM interfaced on the following key areas:

• Upcoming AGM of multinational oil companies
• Engagement with Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM),recent development, and subsequent plan of action
• Shell and other companies’ onshore divestment plan, its implication for Niger Delta and Nigerian government response
• Ongoing cleanup efforts in the Niger Delta, particularly Ogoni land, recent visit by some Ogoni leaders to the president to discuss resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, and other issues of concern.
• The absorptive capacity of Bonny LGA to host further expansion on Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Company (NLNG) with Trains 1-6 on ground and 7 under construction, SPDC Expert Terminal, Exxon Mobil Export Terminals, Belema Oil Facility, other beehives of high Technology Supporting Industry.
• The activities of multinational oil companies including Shell in the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria
• Received and discussed testimonies from indigenous people on the impact of oil exploration activities on the environment and livelihood of the people.

Observations

Participants at the Peoples AGM therefore,

1. Noted with deep concern the announcement by Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), one of the largest shareholders in Shell that it will vote for the re-election of all Shell directors at the 2024 AGM scheduled for May 21, 2024.

2. Refusal of NBIM to join the 27 institutional investors which filed a resolution calling for Shell to align its climate targets with the Paris Agreement.

3. The lack of investors’ response to the Open Call by the Peoples AGM for them to visit the Niger Delta region on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the true state of affairs.

4. Noted the announcement by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) that companies interested in divesting in June 2024 have to agree to accept liabilities and compensate host communities, if they want the Sale to go ahead or wait till August 2024. This announcement provides a window for CSOs in the region to document the liabilities of the IOCs independent of the regulator.

5. Wondered why there is a renewed call for the restoration of oil exploration in Ogoniland since the living conditions in host communities where oil productions are ongoing have not improved and the recommendations of UNEP report have not been fully implemented.

6. Expressed concerns with the slow pace of activities regarding the clean-up of Ogoni land by HYPREP and the lack of performance of many contractors handling the remediation sites since it was handed over to them on April 27, 2023, despite collecting 30% of their contract fee.

7. Decried the failure of the Government of Nigeria to contribute its share to the Ogoni Clean-up fund since the establishment of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation (HYPREP).

8. Noted with concern the plan by Shell and other multinational oil companies in Nigeria to divest from on-shore operations in the Niger Delta and sell off its on-shore facilities to Renaissance Africa Energy without first addressing the environmental damages and livelihood crisis created in the region through its operations.

9. That oil and gas operators that are the regulated have been the ones funding the regulatory agencies in their oversight functions.

Resolutions:

In the light of the above, the participants at the Peoples AGM resolved as follows:

1. Urged shareholders to vote against the re-election of all the directors and reject Shell’s energy transition strategy at the 2024 AGM, because of its non-alignment with Paris Climate Agreement
2. That the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Environment should investigate the cleanup process and carry out environmental audit in all polluted sites across the Niger Delta region. The government should also assess the performance by contractors handling the remediation sites and the contract of those found to have performed bellow expectation despite collecting 30% mobilisation fee, should be revoked and the monies paid to them should be recovered.
3. Resolved to launch a responsible divestment campaign and undertake a peaceful mass action to demand the proper assessment and clean-up of Ogoni land and the entire Niger Delta, as well as the restoration of the environment and the peoples livelihoods before divestment
4. Urged the Nigeria government to contribute its share of fund to the clean-up of Ogoni land and effectively coordinate the clean up process to ensure that the desired result is achieved.
5. To undertake independent audit of liabilities and expressed readiness to sustain the pressure on the regulator to stick to its own guidelines on divestment. This will achieve the prioritization of the interest of the people and their engagement.
6. Investors in oil and gas companies should follow the example set by the Church of England Pension Board and the Dutch healthcare pension fund PFZW who have withdrawn their investment from some oil companies for lack of credible climate strategy.
7. Urged the federal government of Nigeria to reject calls by a section of Ogoni people to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land without concluding the clean up process and due consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
8. The AGM re-stated its earlier call for the companies’ major investors to go to the Niger Delta for the fact-finding mission and resolved to undertake high-level advocacy to engage the investors and government currently supporting SHELL, Total Energies, Exxon Mobil and other oil companies in Nigeria. Agreed to sustain the engagement with the Norwegian Oil Fund and other investors in pursuance of justice for the Niger Delta People.
9. Called on the Nigerian government to reject the divestment plan and sale of its onshore facility by Shell and other multinational IOCs until community concerns are addressed and the company addresses the environmental challenges and livelihood loss it created in the Niger Delta.
10. Niger Delta communities and other stakeholders should organize themselves and engage the Nigerian government and oil companies to ensure a responsible divestment process that reflect the concerns of the people.
11. Urged the government to carry out a carrying capacity study to assess the absorptive capacity of Bonny LGA to host further expansion on NLNG with Trains 1-6 on ground and 7 under construction, SPDC Expert Terminal, Exxon Mobil Export Terminals, Belema Oil Facility, other beehives of high Technology Supporting Industry on ground. This is in view of the cumulative negative impact of the operation of these companies.
12. Government must properly fund the regulatory agencies to carry out its functions to avoid regulatory capture as it is immoral and conflict of interest for the regulated to fund the regulator, as he who pays the piper dictates the tune.
13. Urged the international community ahead of COP29 to increase funding to developing countries to address climate related issues.
14. To continue to undertake environmental justice advocacy and also explore the option of litigation to achieve justice for the people of Niger Delta.

SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLES AGM PLATFORM:

David Ugolor, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and Convener of the Peoples AGM Platform

Kentebe Ebiaridor, Oilwatch Nigeria

Inyingi Irimagha, Gender and Development Action (GADA)

Fr. Benedict Onwugbenu, Justice Development and Peace Centre, Benin

Akie Opuene Hart, Mangrove Forest Conservation Society of Nigeria (MFCSN)

Taritein Boco, Bayelsa NGOs Forum (BANGOF)

Promise Anagbara, Ogoni Indigenous Ministers’ Forum (OIMF)