16 June 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – SHELL Nigeria is working on selling three oil blocks in its latest move to divest some onshore assets, a spokesman said on Friday according to a report. Reuters reported that the Anglo-Dutch supermajor has been winding down some of its onshore operations to focus on offshore and deepwater drilling. The sales follow similar divestments over the past two years. The Nigerian government, which is trying to increase ownership of oil blocks by local companies, has encouraged such deals. "SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Corporation) is working towards the potential divestment of OMLs 30, 34 and 40," spokesman Tony Okonedo told the news wire. He declined to comment on any negotiations or whether an offer had already been made for them. Shell's onshore facilities are plagued with problems such as militancy and rampant oil theft, but Okonedo insisted there was no link between this and the divestments. "We will continue to look at opportunities to rationalise our portfolio," he said.