Oil giants to face Nigerian court

Shell Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have been called to appear at the Federal High Court of Nigeria to outline plans to end the controversial practice of ‘gas-flaring’ in the Iwherekan area in the next year. The oil giants were ordered to cease flaring after a court case in November 2005 found in favour of Iwherekan community representative Jonah Gbemre and adjudged the practice to be a violation of human rights. Further proceedings were filed against Shell Nigeria and NNPC in December.

The latest development has been welcomed by environmental groups working in the region.

"Flaring is a human rights violation which damages the health and livelihoods of communities across the Delta, as well as significantly contributing towards climate change. Today's verdict puts Shell under a legal obligation to end flaring and is a victory in the campaign to end flaring."Alison Dilworth, Rights and Justice Campaigner, Friends of the Earth.

Reverend Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, added; “”We urge Shell to respect this ruling by ensuring that their big guns appear in person before the judge and that they show the world their detailed plan of action to stop the flares by April 2007."