On Thursday, September 26, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) announced that it has taken Shell Development Company to court over a debt of N4 billion.
This debt comes from transporting crude and refined petroleum products through NIWA’s pipelines.
Mr. Bola Oyebimiji, NIWA’s Managing Director, explained that Shell’s recent decision to reduce its offshore operations made it urgent to recover the debt.
He mentioned that NIWA has tried every possible way to resolve the issue peacefully and has even involved the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to work with the Ministry of Energy on the matter.
Oyebimiji stated, “We’re taking Shell to court over their indebtedness. With their divestment, we must collect our money before they leave.” He noted that previous attempts by his predecessor to settle the matter without legal action were unsuccessful, leaving NIWA with no other choice.
This lawsuit is part of NIWA’s ongoing efforts to address debt issues with various oil companies. The agency is determined to recover its debts and ensure that all companies in the industry fulfill their financial responsibilities.
