Bubaraye Dakolo Leads Fight Against Shell for Environmental Justice

Bubaraye Dakolo, the monarch of Ekpetiama in Bayelsa State, southern Nigeria, has emerged as a leading environmental crusader in a landmark legal battle against global oil giant Shell. The lawsuit aims to compel Shell to clean up decades-long oil pollution and restore the environmental health of his kingdom, home to approximately 1.5 million people.

Dakolo, a former soldier and custodian of tradition, decided to take legal action after Shell announced plans to divest its onshore Nigerian assets without addressing its long-standing environmental liabilities.

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From Childhood Witness to Environmental Advocate

Growing up in the 1970s, Dakolo recalls a time when fishing yielded up to 20 kilograms in minutes. Today, local fishermen struggle to catch only a few kilograms despite working all night, reflecting the devastating environmental toll of oil extraction in the Niger Delta.

Walking to school as a child, he had to navigate naked petroleum pipelines crisscrossing his kingdom, which children would often climb and play on. “I was born into seeing this calamity,” he stated, describing how environmental degradation became part of daily life.

His father worked at a local refinery, giving Dakolo a first-hand view of oil production operations, fueling his awareness of corporate responsibility and environmental impact.

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The Case Against Shell

Dakolo’s lawsuit seeks to halt the transfer of Shell assets to Nigerian company Renaissance until a comprehensive plan for environmental cleanup, decommissioning of obsolete infrastructure, and community compensation is implemented.

He is demanding Shell fund a $12 billion cleanup of Bayelsa State, one of the largest corporate environmental liabilities in history, following a four-year investigation by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission.

“They must come and restore the environment to its pristine tranquility… You cannot just come and destroy the place, make all the money, and leave us empty,” Dakolo told AFP.

Additionally, Dakolo is seeking $2 billion in compensation for affected communities, while emphasizing that monetary awards cannot fully account for the human and ecological damage inflicted over decades.

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Environmental and Health Impact on the Niger Delta

The Niger Delta, Africa’s oil heartland, has endured decades of pollution, with farming and fishing communities bearing the brunt of ecological damage. Studies reveal carcinogenic hydrocarbons in local residents’ blood at dangerous levels, contributing to life expectancy in Ekpetiama being just 40 years, compared to 54 in the broader Niger Delta region.

Dakolo warns that Shell’s “surreptitious exit” without addressing these liabilities constitutes an ongoing injustice, and stresses the need for international attention to corporate accountability.

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Shell’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Shell maintains that it operates according to industry environmental standards and attributes most oil spills to sabotage or theft. However, the lawsuit will proceed to a pre-trial hearing, where Shell is expected to raise preliminary objections.

According to Dakolo, these “ping-pong objections” are part of a strategy to exhaust plaintiffs, but he remains resolute. “If you are a traditional leader and not an environmental advocate, then you are not doing part of your work,” he said.

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The Broader Context: Oil, Investment, and Environmental Responsibility

Nigeria, Africa’s leading oil producer, seeks to attract foreign investment under President Bola Tinubu’s reforms. Last week, Shell announced a $2 billion investment in a new offshore gas project, even as Dakolo pursues environmental accountability onshore.

The case highlights the tension between corporate investment in resource-rich regions and the imperative of protecting ecosystems and human health. Dakolo’s legal challenge sets a precedent for royal and community-led environmental advocacy in Nigeria and across the globe.