By,: Tino Kevwe
Indigens of Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, say as far as the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA is concerned, they are not under anybody, insisting the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL and other International Oil and Gas Companies operating in their land, must dialogue with them as regards implementation of the PIA.
The Eghare-Aja of the Ugborodo, Mr. Daniel Uwawah, placed the demand Wednesday May 17, during a peaceful protest staged against Chevron Nigeria Limited at Chevron Terminal Ugborodo.
The Igbajoh of Ugborodo, Prince Terry Atete, who spoke on behalf of the Eghare-Aja, said they have written several letters to Chevron Nigeria Limited, on the necessity for the company’s management to dialogue with them, “in line with the PIA Act, but the company refused.”
Photogrid of Ugborodo community women leader & youth body fielding questions from newsmen
According to the Eghare-Aja, letters written to Chevron Nigeria Limited, concerning the award of contracts and employment, had also been ignored.
“We are faulting the PIA process. We are saying that the company should come directly and dialogue with the Community.
“This they have not done. We are saying we are not going to accept it, until they come and deliberate with us, based on the issue as stated in the Act”, he emphasized.
He posited that CNL has totally disregarded provision of the PIA, “which states that all nominees/representatives to the Board, Management and Advisory Council, must emanate directly from the host community (in this case, Ugborodo)”, adding: “Chevron Nigeria Limited, should stop patronising the former Exco of Ugborodo, led by Barr. Austin Oboroegbeyi. They should always reach out to the Ugborodo Community Elders’ Council for any business, that has to do with Ugborodo Community.”
The protesters, who were from Ode-Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Madangho and Ijaghala Communities, under Ugborodo Federated Communities, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We want our PIA as host communities in Ugborodo”, “All local content contracts must be brought to the community through the appointed organ”, “Enough of Chevron’s divide and rule policies”, “Ugborodo Community, demands frequent and regular engagement with Chevron”, “Chevron must fix the water and the light, before they can proceed with their operation”, “Chevron can you stop intimidating us?!”, “Chevron give us employment”, “We need light, Chevron”, “No good relationship with Chevron”, “Chevron must Go” and “Chevron you are a wicked company.”
In a chat with newsmen, a woman leader in Ugborodo Community, Oritsematosan Nuko, who corroborated the claims of the Eghare-Aja, appealed to Chevron and the Federal Government to come to the rescue of Ugborodo Community and provide shore protection, saying indigenes of the community are being chased away by tidal flood.
While noting that Chevron knows their plights, Nuko said: “They refused to come. There’s no work for our children. No employment, no business, no contracts. We are just managing ourselves.”
She opined that in line with PIA, if Chevron comes and dialogue with the community, their children will be gainfully employed.
Chairman Ugborodo community Youth, Wilson Ejeh and his National Vice Chairman, Victor Laju, who spoke in the same vein, asked Chevron Nigeria Limited and other companies operating in Ugborodo, to yield to thier demands for sustainable peace.
