We were very pleased to be able to host a talk last week by Caz Dennett, co-founder of Justice 4 Nigeria; we were also joined by Lazarus Tamana, J4N co-founder and leader of MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People) who joined us from the NIger Delta.
Both Caz and Lazarus gave a powerful talk on the impact of Shell’s operations in the Niger Delta.
In Ogale, A 2011 UN report found that benzene levels in groundwater were nearly 900 times above safe levels; in Bille, oil pollution has damaged nearly 13,200 hectares of mangrove forest. The resulting widespread damage to fishing and farming, and impact on health is driving young people from the area because there is no longer a livelihood for them in their own communities.
Shell are divesting to local consortiums who are ill-equipped to manage the legacy of environmental damage, and do not have the expertise to maintain and protect the infrastructure to international standards.
Fortunately, a High Court judgement in June 2025 ruled that the Bille and Ogoni people can pursue claims for environmental damage dating back decades, and rejected Shells’ attempt to enforce a 5 year statute of limitations and to shift responsibility on to local consortiums.
A full trial is expected to be held in 2027.
Leigh Day, a law firm established to fight injustice and champion the underdog has been representing the Bille and Ogoni communities in their fight against Shell and an interesting blog on the subject can be found on their website. The Niger Delta Climate Change Conference 2025
J4N are hoping to start a letter writing campaign in the coming months – we hope to have more information in due course.
Amnesty International Taunton Local Group 
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