Shell Nigeria Boosts NDDC Funds with $142.5M Remittance in 2023

Shell Petroleum Development of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) significantly increased their contributions to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2023 as they remitted a total of $142.5 million.

This amount was an increase from the $79.77 million contributed in 2022.

In a statement released by Shell Nigeria’s Manager of Media Communications and NGO Relations, Bamidele Odugbesan, SPDC paid $112.5 million while SNEPCo remitted $30 million.

These contributions, made 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 intended to support the NDDC’s developmental initiatives in the Niger Delta region.

Igo Weli, SPDC’s Director and Country Head of Corporate Relations, said “Our support for the NDDC aligns with our broader aspirations for regional development. This includes a wide array of social investments in health and education, which are crucial for the sustainable development of the communities where we operate.”

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 significant impact on Nigerian society, with initiatives such as the Health-in-Motion programme providing free medical services to over one million individuals since its inception.

Also, Shell’s education support initiatives have awarded more than 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 programme, which has supported 73 businesses through training and mentorship, resulting in 97 new employment opportunities for Nigerians.

Odugbesan stated Shell’s ongoing commitment to its social responsibilities.

He said, “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 comes on the heels of Shell Nigeria’s announcement of paying $1.09 billion in corporate taxes and royalties to the Nigerian government in 2023.