Four civil society organisations have filed a lawsuit in France against French energy company TotalEnergies, demanding the release of documents relating to its planned sale of oil assets in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
The groups — Friends of the Earth France, Hawkmoth, HEDA Resource Centre, and Social Action — said the legal action was brought under France’s Duty of Vigilance Law to compel the company to disclose details of the transaction and demonstrate that it has fulfilled its environmental and compensation responsibilities before leaving the region.
According to the organisations, the terms of the proposed divestment remain unclear despite decades of environmental damage associated with oil exploration in the Niger Delta. They argued that greater transparency is necessary to determine whether adequate measures have been put in place to address pollution and protect affected communities.
The groups noted that the Niger Delta has suffered extensive environmental degradation over the years, with millions of barrels of oil reportedly spilled across the region, affecting water sources, farmland, fishing activities, and the livelihoods of local residents.
They also expressed concerns that the exit of major international oil companies without clear environmental guarantees could weaken ongoing efforts to clean up polluted communities.
The lawsuit follows a series of divestments by international oil companies operating in Nigeria. Shell completed the sale of its onshore subsidiary in 2025, while TotalEnergies announced plans to sell its stake in a Nigerian joint venture earlier this year. Italian energy firm ENI has also disclosed plans to divest its interests.
The organisations further questioned whether the incoming owners of the assets have the financial capacity to meet existing environmental obligations, warning that affected communities should not be left to bear the long-term consequences of pollution.
They are asking the French court to order TotalEnergies to release documents detailing the transaction and outlining the steps being taken to prevent further environmental and human rights impacts in the Niger Delta.
