Oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell is set to make a payout of $84 million (N15,493,809,854.06) to residents of the Bodo community in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria following two oil spills.
15,600 fishermen will receive $3,300 each for losses caused by the spills while the remaining $30 million will be donated to the community, Law Firm, Leigh Day, which represented the fishermen, said.
According to reports, lawyers have said that they are delighted at the massive payout which is the first of its kind and will serve to compensate the community which was “devastated by the two massive oil spills in 2008 and 2009”.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has been urged to enact and enforce laws that will hold oil companies accountable for their roles in environmentally degrading the Niger delta.
The call was made by renowned environmental activist, Nnimmo Bassey who was reacting to the 55 billion pound settlement made by Royal Dutch Shell to Bono community in Ogoni, Rivers State.
According to Mr. Bassey, the settlement by Shell is a victory for the people of Bono and it sets a good precedence to pursue similar cases with other oil companies who are accused of causing similar harm to fishing communities in the oil rich Niger delta.
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