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BusinessDay
Royal Dutch Shell spent almost 40 percent of its $1 billion global security budget between 2007 and 2009 in Nigeria, pressure group Platform said, adding much of the money went to the country’s security forces which it described as corrupt.
The oil major spent $383 million protecting its staff and assets in Nigeria’s restive oil region during the three-year period, according to company figures leaked to Platform, a London-based body monitoring the oil and gas industry.
“Shell paid many millions of dollars to government forces with a track record for corruption and creating instability across Nigeria,” Platform’s Ben Amunwa said. Shell did not confirm the figures but said it had to spend heavily because of the security threats. “We have always acknowledged the difficulties of working in countries like Nigeria. Protecting our people and our assets is Shell’s highest priority,” Shell Nigeria spokesman Precious Okolobo said in response.
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