Platform’s Ben Amunwa was interviewed on the BBC World Service following revelations on Wikileaks about Shell’s infiltration of the Nigerian government. In a leaked US diplomatic cable, Shell executive Ann Pickard boasts about how Shell “had access to everything” that was discussed in “all the relevant ministries”.
The leak exposes Shell’s colonial control over Nigeria’s oil. It is clear that Shell has long exploited the political turmoil in Nigeria for it’s own advantage.
[NOTE: the newsreader, Claire, incorrectly said that Platform took Shell to court in 2009. We didn’t. Though we worked in support of the landmark human rights case she is referring to. Also, she mixed up my name with the name of an ex-Nigerian government figure. But aside from that it was fine.]