In 2023, the Niger Delta Development Commission received $142.5 million from Shell Petroleum Development of Nigeria Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited.
SPDC paid $112.5m while SNEPCo remitted $30m, according to a statement from Shell Nigeria’s Manager of Media Communications and NGO Relations, Mr. Bamidele Odugbesan. In 2022, SPDC paid $59.04m, while SNEPCo remitted $20.73m.
He noted that the contributions came from the Shell companies on behalf of themselves and their respective partners—the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited; TotalEnergies, EP Nigeria Limited; NAOC; and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited—as statutory contributions to the interventionist agency.
SPDC Director and Country Head of Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, said the company’s support for NDDC was part of its aspirations for the development of the Niger Delta, which had also seen a wide range of social investments, including health and education.
“With the continuous support of our partners, we will continue to discharge our obligations to communities through statutory payments to agencies and projects executed in partnership with stakeholders,” Weli stated.
Odugbesan disclosed that Shell companies in Nigeria have supported community development programmes in the country since the 1960s, benefiting many Nigerians.
“Support for education has led to the award of more than 3,450 secondary school grants, 3,772 university grants, and 1,062 cradle-to-career scholarship grants since 2016.
“Another investment has seen the introduction of the Health-in-Motion programme, providing free medical services directly to communities. Over one million individuals have benefited from the programme since its inception in the early 2000s.
He said, “Also, the global Shell LiveWIRE entrepreneurship program supported 73 businesses through training and mentorship programs leading to 97 employment opportunities for Nigerians.”
As previously reported by Trust News Africa, Shell Nigeria declared that, through the operations of the SPDC and SNEPCo, it will be paying the Nigerian government $1.09 billion in corporate taxes and royalties in 2023.
