The more famous spills of
Deepwater Horizon and silver medal holder Exxon Valdez nothwithstanding, Nigeria has suffered huge oil spills for the past fifty years. By and large, the devastation has been ignored.
People who live in the Niger delta have had to withstand huge oil spills for decades. Farmers allege that spills from Shell pipelines have contaminated their land and fishing ponds, and have destroyed their livelihood. They want Shell to clean up the mess and compensate them for lost earnings. Shell argues that the ruptures to its supply lines are, in the main, the result of sabotage, and that any damages claims should be heard in the Nigerian courts. So it's the fault of the locals.
She adds: "After oil spills, the air reeks of pollutants. Many [people] have been driven into poverty, and because they can't make Shell accountable for its actions, there is enormous distrust between the group and local people."
