Shell reopens Nigeria oil flowstations after protest

LAGOS Aug 27 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said on Friday it had reopened two oil flowstations in Nigeria's Niger Delta shut down two days ago due to a protest by local women over a lack of development in their community.

The Anglo-Dutch giant shut the Otumara and Escravos flowstations in Delta state on Tuesday but gave no details on whether production had been affected.

"The protesting Ugburodo women yesterday ended their occupation of the Escravos and Otumara flow stations," Shell spokesman Tony Okonedo said in an email.

"Action followed successful dialogue among stakeholders including government and community reps. Both stations, and a third which was later affected, have returned to production."

Many remote communities in the Niger Delta, a vast network of mangrove creeks, remain impoverished despite five decades of oil extraction which have left their land and water polluted.

Such protests are not uncommon.

Royalty payments from oil firms and the sharing of federal oil revenues mean state governments in the Niger Delta have larger budgets than many West African nations, but endemic corruption has meant little development has been achieved. (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Nick Tattersall)