On Tuesday, Shell (SHEL.L) reported an oil spill near Port Harcourt, in Ogale, following an overflow from a saver pit during flushing operations in the Niger Delta. The company’s Nigerian division stated that its spill response team managed to contain the overflow and promptly notified the authorities. Arrangements were being made for a joint inspection led by regulators to assess the cause and impact of the spill, according to a Shell spokesperson.
Oil spills have plagued Nigeria’s Niger River Delta for decades, causing severe environmental damage and devastating the livelihoods and health of millions in local communities. The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) explained that the spill occurred when an underground pit filled with crude oil began leaking into a pipeline separating an area of the Ogoni cleanup project.
