Shell Petroleum Development of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) significantly boosted their contributions to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2023, remitting a total of $142.5 million. This represents a notable increase from the $79.77 million contributed in 2022.
According to a statement from Bamidele Odugbesan, Shell Nigeria’s Manager of Media Communications and NGO Relations, SPDC contributed $112.5 million, while SNEPCo added $30 million. These funds, provided on behalf of Shell and its partners—including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, NAOC, and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited—are statutory payments aimed at supporting the NDDC’s developmental initiatives in the Niger Delta region.
Igo Weli, SPDC’s Director and Country Head of Corporate Relations, emphasized that their support for the NDDC aligns with Shell's broader goals for regional development. This support includes various social investments in health and education, which are essential for the sustainable development of the communities where Shell operates.
Shell Nigeria’s contributions are part of a long-standing tradition of community development programs that the company has supported since the 1960s. These programs have had a profound impact on Nigerian society. For example, the Health-in-Motion program has provided free medical services to over one million people since its inception. Additionally, Shell’s education initiatives have awarded over 3,450 secondary school grants, 3,772 university grants, and 1,062 cradle-to-career scholarship grants since 2016.
The company also highlighted the Shell LiveWIRE entrepreneurship program, which has supported 73 businesses through training and mentorship, creating 97 new employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Odugbesan reaffirmed Shell’s ongoing commitment to its social responsibilities, stating, “With the continuous support of our partners, we will persist in fulfilling our obligations to communities through statutory payments and various projects executed in collaboration with stakeholders.”
This increase in contributions follows Shell Nigeria’s announcement of paying $1.09 billion in corporate taxes and royalties to the Nigerian government in 2023.