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ABSTRACT
This study explores Shell Petroleum Development Company and the Niger Delta Crisis from 2009-2018. The objectives of the study examines how Shell’s actions have impacted the environment, analyses their social and economic consequences and investigates their community relations in the region. The kinds of data used for the study were oral interviews and Shell reports. Both classes of data were subjected to analysis after transcribed using historical craft to verify, authenticate and examine Shell Petroleum Development Company role in the Niger Delta crisis. This goes to show that the Niger Delta people received the cheering news of the discovery of oil in commercial quantity by Shell Petroleum development Company of Nigeria with a great jubilation that it would induce development in the area. Regrettably, the mineral deposits in the region were exploited and expropriated for the utter neglect of the people whose land it was derived. There is total death of infrastructure and social amenities such as roads, schools, electricity, pipe-borne water and hospitals in the region where Shell operates. The source of drinking water have also been polluted as a result of constant oil spillage from oil production. Their farmlands have been destroyed and rendered unfit for agricultural purposes. The federal government which is often controlled by elements from major ethnic groups seems not be concerned about equitable revenue sharing formula from oil proceeds obtained from the region. The obvious marginalization coupled with environmental degradation of the region however resulted in frustration and subsequent aggressive tendencies that have overtime dictated the actions of many youths who have formed themselves into groups to wage war against the sources of injustice, the central government and Shell petroleum development company in particular. The activities of the group nearly crippled Nigerian economy and oil production in spite of the military approach and repression posture adopted by successive administrations. It was in attempt to resolve the impasse that the administration of former President Late Musa Yar’ Adua showed political will by adopting Amnesty Programme. The policy aimed at granting a state pardon to those militants who laid their weapons, never to go back to the creeks. The Amnesty Programme implementation in the Niger Delta helped in no small measure to reduce tensions, conflicts and insecurity in the region as it failed to end root causes of the agitation. Shell community assistance on the other hand could not ameliorate the plight of the people as its developmental projects obscure the people needs. The assessment of the Shell petroleum development company and the Niger Delta crisis shows that the exploitative activities of Shell coupled with unprecedented deprivation and impoverishment by the central government adversely affected the people. The study justify that, the poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment and environmental degradation in the region fueled the violence between the oil producing communities and oil company.
