Lawyers say thousands of Nigerian farmers and fishermen are taking legal action in the UK in an attempt to win compensation for environmental damage caused by oil spills.

ROYAL Dutch Shell has agreed to a $15.5 million (€11m) settlement to end a lawsuit alleging that the oil giant was complicit in the executions of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other civilians by Nigeria’s former military regime.

Shell put its environmental record under fresh scrutiny today after conceding it would miss targets to end the controversial practice of burning unwanted gas in Nigeria.

Oil giant Shell today stayed silent on claims that more of its executives could resign following its revelation of a major shortfall in its oil and gas reserves.