In 2023, the combined social investment expenditures by Shell companies in Nigeria and their partners reached $42.2 million, marking a 23% increase from the previous year’s $34.29 million. Shell alone contributed $14.1 million.

This notable increase reflects the dedicated efforts of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), along with their partners, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, NAOC, and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. These investments aim to foster socio-economic growth in the communities they operate.

The figures, contained in the recently published Shell Nigeria Briefing Notes for 2023, show that the investments were in health, education, road safety, and enterprise programs. Additionally, SPDC and SNEPCo made statutory payments totaling $142 million to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2023.

Bamidele Odugbesan, Communications, Media, and NGO Relations Manager, quoted SPDC’s Director and Country Head of Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, stating, “Our vision for the Niger Delta is for our people to leverage these and other investments to enhance their lives. This is why we support communities in developing their skills for need assessment, project planning, and execution. Our goal is to contribute to the sustainable development of the region through collaboration with all stakeholders.”

Since the 1950s, Shell companies in Nigeria have been committed to supporting education through scholarships and other initiatives. In 2023, SPDC, SNEPCo, and SNG invested over $3 million in educational programs.