An international human rights group, Amnesty International, has urged the Nigerian oil regulator to ensure that the assessment of Shell’s proposed sale of its onshore assets is free from conflict of interest.

The regulator, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, has hired Boston Consulting Group and S&P Global to review the sale, but Amnesty International notes that both firms have existing ties with Shell.

Amnesty International Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi in a press release on Thursday expressed concerns that the involvement of BCG and S&P Global could compromise the independence of the review process.

“Given the enormous human rights risks at stake, it is essential that reviews of the sale are not just independent but seen to be independent,” Sanusi said.

He noted that Shell’s sale of its onshore assets has been controversial due to the company’s history of oil spills and environmental damage in the region.

Amnesty International called for assurances that the potential buyers have the ability and financial stability to manage the operations safely and effectively and that safeguards are in place to protect local communities from further harm.

“The government regulator must avoid any perceived conflict of interests and ensure the full independence of any consultants used to review Shell’s proposed sale.

“Shell must be held fully to account for the oil spills related to the business it is selling, which have polluted the environment, contaminated drinking water, and poisoned agricultural land, fisheries, and people,” he added.

In January, Shell announced the sale of its Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria to the Renaissance consortium worth up to $2.4bn.