We won't accept alienation of Itsekiri in the planned sale of your onshore assets, INYC warns Shell

The apex Itsekiri youth body worldwide, Itsekiri National Youths Council, INYC, has warned multi national oil and gas company, Shell against the planned sale of its $1.3 billion Nigeria onshore assets, saying it won't accept alienation of Itsekiri Nation in the divestment processes.

Ag. President of the INYC, Comrade Godwin Utieyin, who handed down the warning during a media briefing in Warri, Delta state, weekend, stressed the need for Shell to adhere strictly to the Local Content policy and respect the rights of Itsekiri host communities in the proposed move.

Comr. Utieyin averred: “It has come to our notice that Shell is deliberately alienating Itsekiri People, particularly our host communities, from the planned sale of its onshore (Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC) assets.

“Developments like this, if not carefully handled, will spell doom for the whole process and result in colossal failure at the end.                                 

"The company cannot pretend that it was unaware of the environmental devastation its operations, have caused our people.

“We are calling out Shell to reconsider its action and align itself with the Itsekiri People and investors. Local content gives the Itsekiri People and her investors right to first refusal in the sales. Indeed, this is the best way to go, bearing the fact that the Itsekiri people and its investors are principal stakeholders in SPDC operation and assets from its inception."

The group further called on the Federal and State Governments as well as the Local Government to advise the oil and gas major to respect agreement as stipulated in the local content or face the wrath of Itsekiri youths across the globe.

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