Fresh allegations have emerged against Shell after confidential company documents disclosed in a United Kingdom court case reportedly revealed years of deteriorating oil infrastructure, weak environmental oversight and concerns over pollution management in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
The claims are contained in a report titled “Nigeria: Lifting the Lid,” published by Amnesty International alongside seven environmental and human rights organisations. The report is based on internal Shell emails, technical reviews, audits and presentations that were disclosed during ongoing legal proceedings in the UK.
According to the report, Shell was aware of serious integrity issues affecting pipelines and oil wells in its former Nigerian operations but allegedly delayed replacing or decommissioning ageing facilities despite recognising the environmental risks. Rights groups say the revelations raise fresh questions about the company’s environmental legacy following the sale of its former onshore subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to Renaissance Africa Energy.
Among the most significant disclosures is an internal email that allegedly described the Nembe Creek Trunk Line as “a basket” because of its deteriorating condition. Although the 96.5-kilometre pipeline was replaced in 2010, the report claims about 80 kilometres of the old pipeline remained filled with crude oil for years because funds were not made available for proper decommissioning. The abandoned line reportedly suffered at least six operational spills after it was replaced.
The report also alleges that Shell struggled to account for hundreds of oil wells within its Nigerian operations. Internal records reportedly showed that many wells were either missing from electronic tracking systems or their conditions could not be verified, prompting what the company described as a “well hunt campaign.” Investigators further claimed maintenance records revealed hundreds of overdue repairs, while pipelines designed to be replaced every 15 years remained in use long beyond their intended lifespan.
Amnesty International also challenged Shell’s long-standing position that most oil spills in the Niger Delta resulted from sabotage and crude oil theft. The report cites internal communications suggesting some illegal pipeline connections were left untouched to avoid interrupting oil production. It further alleges that some company officials suspected employees and contractors may have been involved in organised oil theft, while questioning the reliability of investigations used to determine whether spills resulted from operational failures or third-party interference.
Another major finding concerns the estimated cost of dismantling Shell’s former onshore assets. The report says internal documents placed the decommissioning bill at $10.9 billion, excluding environmental remediation. Rights groups argue that Shell’s exit from its onshore business should not absolve it of responsibility for pollution accumulated during decades of oil production and are urging the Nigerian government to strengthen regulatory oversight and establish a dedicated environmental clean-up fund for the Niger Delta.
Responding to the allegations before the report was published, Shell rejected its characterisation by Amnesty International and its partners. The company stated that it remains committed to honesty, integrity and ethical business practices, adding that the report failed to reflect the difficult operating environment that existed in the Niger Delta during its years of operation.
The report comes as legal battles over oil pollution in the Niger Delta continue in courts across Europe. Among the most notable is the ongoing case brought by the Ogale and Bille communities against Shell in the United Kingdom, with the Bille trial scheduled for March 2027.
