, 15 October - Royal Dutch Shell is appealing a Nigerian court eviction ordering hand over of a site said to be a key base in oil-rich Niger Delta.

Court batlle followed accusation by local community that award of site was illegally and corruptly allocated by state government, to which court ruled in favour of local community.

According to reports, local communities claim to have rented land to Shell in late 1950's, but were surprised by recent emerging of a certificate giving Shell ownership of the land.

A BBC report however has said order is not likely to take effect, also citing a Shell spokeswoman confirming an appeal is to be lodged.

The terminal in question is said to be Africa's largest, with capacity to dock several tankers at once, and decision to evict oil company there, according to analysts could hit hard on Nigeria's already distorted crude production.

Nigeria's oil production has dropped by almost a quarter mainly due to violence targetted at oil infrastructure and foreign interests in the Niger Delta, with militants claiming to fight for greater benefits and control over oil wealth for local communities.

The state has also seen one of the highest crude theft said to be encouraged by some unscrupulous foreign companies making hefty profits from black market oil.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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