Unmasking Climate Lies: How Shell and Eni Fuel Disinformation in Nigeria’s Niger Delta

This investigation is part of a year-long, three-part series uncovering climate change disinformation spread by multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Two major players, Shell and Eni, stand at the center of controversy, accused of manipulating public perception while contributing to environmental devastation in the region. Their strategies, built on misleading claims, have fueled the global climate crisis and continue to threaten communities in the Niger Delta.

Shell and Eni’s Role in Climate Disinformation
As global pressure mounts on corporations to address their carbon footprint, Shell and Eni have ramped up their public relations efforts, portraying themselves as champions of environmental responsibility. However, evidence reveals a stark contrast between their public statements and their operational realities in Nigeria. By funding research, influencing media, and backing lobby groups, these oil giants continue to distort the conversation around climate change, delaying meaningful action.

Impact on the Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, home to one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, has suffered irreparable damage due to decades of oil spills, gas flaring, and pollution. Shell and Eni’s extraction practices have devastated local agriculture, fisheries, and water sources, resulting in severe economic and health consequences for the people living there. Despite these adverse effects, both companies deny responsibility, deflecting attention with disinformation campaigns that underplay the environmental harm caused by their operations.

The Manipulation of Public Perception
Shell and Eni have developed sophisticated tactics to influence public opinion. These include funding studies that minimize the role of fossil fuels in climate change, sponsoring advertisements that emphasize their investment in clean energy, and fostering partnerships with governments to maintain access to lucrative oil fields. Their disinformation efforts are not only misleading but also serve to justify ongoing pollution in the Niger Delta under the guise of development and job creation.

Calls for Accountability
Activists and environmental groups are increasingly calling for Shell and Eni to be held accountable for their role in perpetuating climate change and environmental degradation in Nigeria. Local communities are demanding justice for the pollution that has ravaged their lands, waters, and health. Global attention is now turning toward the need for transparency and genuine corporate responsibility as the climate crisis accelerates.