Protesting indigenes of oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta, on Wednesday, occupied the Escravos Gas To Liquid (EGTL), tendering 41 demands before quitting the facility.
Some of the demands are that Chevron should, as a matter of urgency, implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), implement the Ikpere Host Community PIA as agreed by the National Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURPC) as well as give employment to youths and people of Ugborodo and Itsekiri indigenes.
But in a swift reaction, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) in a statement on Thursday said it was committed to the operationalization of the HCDT in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (“PIA”).
During the protest, the indigenes
mounted a shrine with a fearful, ancestral effigy known as “Ogbejugbele” in the Chevron facility to depict that their ancestors aren’t only in support of their actions, but also angry.
The protesters, while frowning at the non-implementation of the PIA by blocking the entrance of the facility against the workers, warned Chevron not to take them and their ancestors for granted as they blocked the entrance into the facility.
The protesters, who chanted solidarity songs, also bore placards with inscriptions such as, “2019/2020 workforce are your family members,” “Chevron don’t intimidate us with security,” “give us what rightfully belong to us,” “We can work,” “put the community first in all employment.”
Others were, “Chevron implement Ikpere Host Community PIA as agreed by NURPC,” “Train the people on the job,” “Chevron engage community in the ongoing conversion,” “Chevron gross marginalisation must stop,” “Give us our own contract in the turnaround maintenance,” “Our community is not your property,” and “Chevron Stop the discrimination against Ugborodo Host Community.”
The protesters insisted that said they would not leave Chevron’s facility until the Federal Government prevailed on the oil multinational to accede to their request.
One of the protesters, Helen Uremure, who’s a woman leader in Ugborodo Community, said Chevron had failed in meeting its Corporate Social Responsibilities to Ugborodo community.
Uremure said there’s nothing for Ugborodo community to show Chevron’s presence in their community for the past 60 years.
“We have not received anything from Chevron. No employment, no contract. Even our elders, nothing to support them. They’re cheating on us,” adding that she had personally written to Chevron to provide employment for Ugborodo youths, but the company failed to listen.
Another protester and indigene of Ugborodo community, Julie Iwetan, said the people of Ugborodo were hungry and suffering.
A youth leader in Ugborodo community, Ukueyinden Ajuetsi said the community lacked basic amenities like potable drinking water and electricity, adding that there’s no job for youths.
A leader in the community, Joseph Ireyefoju, also said Chevron has failed to implement the PIA pointing out that the community is grossly under-developed.
He noted that there was ongoing maintenance work in the facility, but Chevron had brought workers from outside without considering indigenes of Ugborodo community.
Leader of the peaceful protest, Augustine Iyinbo, who addressed journalists, corroborated all the claims of the respondents, warning that the protesters would not leave the facility until the Federal Government intervened.
It will be recalled that in late August and early September 2023, after much protests by indigenes of Ugborodo, Deghele and Ugboegungun communities occupied Chevron Tank Farm and Shell-operated Otumara Flowstation in Warri South-West LGA over the PIA implementation saga.
The NUPRC officials had to intervene by paying a visit to the protesters after which they agreed to accede to their requests.
Meanwhile, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and CNL (NNPCL/CNL JV), has confirmed that at about 7:00a.m on November 21, 2023, boats conveying some protesters started patrolling along CNL’s Terminal and Escravos Gas-To-Liquids (“EGTL”) jetties and subsequently blocked access to Escravos Terminal (including EGTL jetty) in CNL’s Western area of operations.
This was disclosed in a statement by Mr Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL, on Thursday morning.
He said the protesters were “demanding for the renaming of the Warri Kingdom Onshore Host Community Development Trust (“HCDT”) and involvement in the nomination of additional persons for inclusion on the Board of Trustees (“BOT”) of the HCDT. In addition, they are requesting for mobilization of their community workers for the EGTL Turn Around Maintenance (“TAM”) activities.
“CNL’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn affirmed that CNL operates in strict compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
“CNL is committed to the operationalization of the HCDT in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (“PIA”).
“CNL continues to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders, including Ugborodo community leaders and traditional rulers towards the operationalization of the HCDT.
“Also, CNL is committed to ensuring the participation of community workers for the EGTL TAM in line with the manpower mobilization plan.”
He further stated that CNL has continued to engage with relevant stakeholders including the protesters, community leaders, traditional rulers, the BOT of the HCDT, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (“NUPRC”), the Delta State Government, and other critical stakeholders to ensure the peaceful vacation of the protesters from CNL’s Terminal and EGTL jetties.
“CNL places the highest priority on and remains committed to the safety of people, the environment and its assets,” Esimaje further noted.
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