The people of Ugborodo community, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday, occupied the facilities of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, in a peaceful protest over alleged neglect and “marginalization in terms of employment and non-implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The protesters chanted solidarity songs, bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Ugborodo demands her 70% direct Chevron slots; Chevron JV and EGTL belongs to Ugborodo community; Follow community local content law; Chevron EGTL PITSTOP please employ our indigenes; EGTL PITSTOP project must recognise Ugborodo as host; Federal and State Govt come to our aid.”
They said they would remain in the facility until top management of CNL, and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company come to Ugborodo community to address their demands.
The Chairman of Ugborodo Management Committee, Mr Emmanuel Onuwaje claimed that for over 60 years of Chevron’s operations in the community, they had not carried out any significant project in the community.
“We are not going anywhere to have a meeting with them, we will stay here till they come.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to prevail on the issue,” he said.
The Secretary-General of the Itsekiri National Youth Council, Hon. Raymond Pira, who also spoke, lamented the irony of being in the “middle of affluence and everybody is living in abject poverty.”
He said, “In this yard, thousands are working, but there has been complete neglect of Ugborodo community. No jobs, no contracts. They pay us less than those brought from outside, they call them Lekki workers.
“They bring people from outside in droves to work here, and we are not employed. Chevron has to employ us, we need blue badge, direct employment.
“We are calling on the management of Chevron on the issue of PIA to implement that of Ikpere Host Communities’ Development Trust.
“They are contravening the Local Content Law that provides some percentage for us. We are saying that until they attend to us, we are not going to leave here.”
The National President of Ugborodo Youths, Wilson Ejeh, said, “we have had challenges with Chevron for decades in terms of electricity supply, employment and contracts.
“We keep fighting and protesting, no response. Ugborodo is a peaceful community, we don’t like violence.
“We have sent countless letters to them, (referring to Chevron Nigeria Limited) but got no response.”
The National Vice Chairman, Laju Udonju, lamented that despite hosting several Chevron facilities such as tank farms and the EGTL, there was nothing tangible to show in terms of development.
As of the time of filing this report, Chevron management has not responded to the claims by the community.