Shell must clean up pollution before it leaves Niger delta, report says

A woman walks past a sign on polluted land warning of contamination in the Niger Delta. Photograph: Tife Owolabi/EPA

The oil firm Shell cannot be allowed to withdraw from the Niger delta before it takes responsibility for its toxic legacy of pollution and the safe decommissioning of abandoned oil infrastructure, a report says.

Shell plc is preparing to divest from the delta but a report warns that it must remain until it has cleaned up its legacy of pollution.