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Shell Case Study

To truly understand the impact Royal Dutch/Shell (referred to hereafter as Shell) had in Nigeria, you must understand how Shell and the Nigerian government worked almost hand in hand in making life miserable for the Ogoni people. The Ogoni are people indigenous to the Delta region, where Shell does most of its work in that country. The Nigerian government has been dominated and ruled by military groups, interrupted only by brief periods of civil rule. The military government of Nigeria and shell oil have each benefited greatly from their relationship.
The Nigerian government committed horrible acts on the Ogoni people. This government rules its people with an iron fist, and meets any problems it may have with the people with sudden and brutal force. Some of the governments' problems included people such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, an Ogoni environmental activist. Despite worldwide condemnation and protest, the Nigerian government executed this man. He was tried on some trumped up and baseless charges. To further complicate the issue, the trial was a special military tribunal, whose decisions is final and cannot be appealed. Shell and the government bribed witnesses. The trial lasted only eight days, and had a gross lack of evidence, and defense attorneys were not allowed to meet with Ken Saro-Wiwa; the government executed him and eight other activists eight days after the trial. Among other atrocities committed by the government since 1933 are: the destruction of over twenty Ogoni villages, the murder of nearly two thousand Ogoni people, and making tens of thousands of Ogoni's homeless. One question begs to be answered, and that is why?
The government has greatly benefited from Shell, and can attribute most of their longevity in power to Shell. Over half of the money that the government has used to remain in power came from the generous pockets of Shell. Shell has also helped the government in many other ways as well. The government has received weapons,...