The indigenes of Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State are to receive a sum of N7.5 billion from Shell Petroleum Development Company for oil spill damages in 2008.

CEOAFRICA.com gathered that the above-mentioned was the proposal made by the company as it awaits response from community representatives and lawyers.

The 2008 oil spill polluted the waterways of the fishing communities.

Although Shell accepts responsibility for the spill, it insisted that the volume of the spill and the number of those who lost their means of livelihood were exaggerated.

Speaking about the company’s proposal, Shell’s spokesman, Mr. Joseph Obari, said: “We took part in this week’s settlement negotiations with two objectives – to make a generous offer of compensation to those who have suffered hardship as a result of the two highly regrettable operational spills in 2008, and to make progress in relation to the cleanup.

“We await the community’s response to our compensation proposal, and we’re pleased to have made progress in relation to the cleanup.

“SPDC and the Bodo community have committed their full support for the cleanup process, currently in progress, with the support of Bert Ronhaar, the former Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria,’’ he added.

Furthermore, Obari declared that Shell had also proposed a series of interim measures to begin the removal of oil from the area.

“Of course, the success of any interim measures and final remediation depends on the cessation of oil theft and illegal refining in the area,” he said.