Security in Nigeria
Nigeria remains a volatile business environment due to the challenging security situation across the country including Shell operational areas. Niger Delta has continued to witness oil theft, kidnap-for-ransom and other forms of criminality, but the risk to Shell has decreased due to the reduction in our footprints, operations and population in the region following the recent sale of the onshore arm of Shell Companies in Nigeria (The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited), which operated majorly in the Delta.
Other parts of the country such as the South-East region continues to witness separatist agitation, while the North-East region in particular and to some extent the North-West and North-Central regions are experiencing terrorism. Operations of Shell Nigerian Gas in the South-East region of the country is impacted by the threat of terrorism (separatist agitation).
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) now Shell’s flagship company in Nigeria operates in the deep offshore of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) where piracy and kidnap-for-ransom is the major challenge. GoG used to be the worst maritime environment in the world, but for the efforts of western and GoG member states navies that significantly curtailed activities of the pirates. However, this threat is still a very potent risk to the business.
SCIN staff, contractors and families remain vulnerable to the threat of general criminality such as kidnapping, armed robbery, cybercrimes, fraud and carjacking/theft and our priority is to keep them safe while we continue to work with the communities, the federal, state and local governments, and other agencies to restore peace.
Shell does not advocate the use of force in suppressing peaceful protest by its host communities against its operations, even if oil production is disrupted. Dialogue to resolve the underlying problems is the answer in such situations. It is the duty of government to enforce law and order - at the same time respecting the human rights of its people. In areas where armed crime and lawlessness are prevalent, the government provides policing.
Two categories of security personnel are involved in security operations in Shell Nigeria’s area of operations. The Nigeria Police Force deploys a corps to guard Shell Nigeria’s assets, facilities and staff. These Supernumerary Police generally do not carry arms. They are trained using Shell Nigeria’s Security Management System and Guidelines on the use of External Security Forces, developed in line with United Nations (UN) norms and codes, as well as the UN’s Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials