Nigerian communities in the Niger Delta are pursuing legal action against Royal Dutch Shell over decades of environmental damage caused by persistent oil spills. Led by residents from the Ogale and Bille communities, the lawsuit—filed in the London High Court—claims that Shell’s negligence has destroyed livelihoods, contaminated water sources, and left long-lasting health impacts on local populations.
The case, which has been in the making for over a decade, centers on allegations that Shell failed to adequately maintain its pipelines and remediate spills, instead attributing most incidents to sabotage. However, community leaders argue that the company has a moral and legal duty to clean up the pollution that has ravaged their environment for years.
A preliminary issues trial is set to run from February 13 to March 7, 2025, with a full trial expected to commence in late 2026. If successful, the ruling could set a historic precedent for holding multinational corporations accountable for environmental damage in foreign jurisdictions, providing a long-sought measure of justice for the affected Nigerian communities. 
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