‘Our workers not named’ — Shell reacts to report accusing employees of pipeline vandalism

Shell Nigeria has reacted to a report accusing its employees of colluding with local youths to vandalize oil pipelines.

Zembla, a Dutch investigative TV programme, claims that pipelines are vandalised for the workers to benefit from the money spent on clean-up operations.

The 18-month long investigation was carried out by Milieudefensie, a Dutch environmental group, into pipeline leaks between 2010 and 2020.

A statement released on the investigation also quotes a former Shell security guard who has also vandalised pipelines as saying Shell supervisors make secret arrangements with young people from different regions.

“And then they split the money from the cleanup. The recovery department from Shell sabotages the pipelines. If the cleanup will take seven months, they’ll stop after only three months,” the former employee was quoted to have said.

Reacting in a statement, Bamidele Odugbesan, the company’s media relations manager, said the Shell Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has no formal report of employees or contractors involved in pipeline vandalism.

He said SPDC investigates such atrocities and report similar incidents to government security agencies.

“SPDC does not have any formal report of named SPDC staff members or contractors involved in pipeline vandalism or crude oil theft,” the report reads.

“SPDC, like other Shell companies globally, investigates all credible reports it receives of misconduct or unethical behaviour and takes robust action where evidence exists. SPDC has multiple ways the public can report allegations of wrongdoing by anyone working for SPDC, including a 24/7 telephone and email helpline.

“SPDC also monitors its joint venture facilities and any incident or suspected criminal activities are promptly reported to the regulators and government security agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.

“All spills are assessed by a government-led joint investigation team. Where sabotage is established, the clean-up contract is not awarded to contractors from the host community to ensure that possible accomplices do not benefit from such activities. SPDC cleans up and remediates areas impacted by spills that come from its operations, irrespective of cause of spill.”