Bayelsa Monarch Sues Shell, Demands $12 Billion for Environmental Cleanup Before Company Exit
Bayelsa Monarch Sues Shell, Demands $12 Billion for Environmental Cleanup Before Company Exit A prominent traditional ruler in Bayelsa State, His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo of the Ekpetiama Kingdom, has filed a landmark suit against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its parent companies, demanding $12 billion in compensation for decades of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
The monarch, through his legal team, appeared before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, calling on the court to compel Shell and its international affiliates to address severe ecological damage before finalizing its divestment from the region. The lawsuit argues that Shell is attempting to exit Nigeria’s onshore oil operations without properly decommissioning facilities, remediating polluted areas, or compensating affected communities actions required under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, who presided over the hearing, granted an order allowing substituted service of court documents on Shell International and Shell UK PLC, both based overseas. The case has been adjourned to July 22, 2025, for further proceedings.
“The Niger Delta cannot continue to suffer while multinationals walk away from the mess they created,” King Dakolo said. “The people of Ekpetiama and beyond have endured contaminated water, destroyed livelihoods, and toxic environments for over four decades. This must not be allowed to continue.”
The demand for $12 billion draws on findings from the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC), which estimates that a minimum of $12 billion would be needed to clean up the land, restore biodiversity, and rehabilitate mangroves and water systems across the region over the next 12 years.
The suit names several key figures and bodies as co-defendants, including Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Commission Chief Executive. The monarch argues that the government must not approve any sale or exit strategy by Shell without holding the company accountable for its past actions.
Shell has yet to issue an official statement regarding the lawsuit or the $12 billion demand.
The case is being closely watched across Nigeria and internationally, as it could set a precedent for how multinational companies are held responsible for environmental damage in resource-rich but vulnerable regions.
