Itsekiri indigenes of Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday, staged a protest at the Chevron yard in Ugborodo, Warri, demanding urgent intervention from the company’s top management over alleged neglect.
The protesters vowed not to vacate the premises until senior management officials of Chevron Nigeria Limited addressed their grievances, insisting that persistent neglect of host communities had worsened hardship among residents.
The peaceful protest, which began on Monday, attracted youths and community leaders carrying placards with various inscriptions calling for employment, electricity, potable water and compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Addressing journalists at the protest ground, the Secretary-General of the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC), Comrade Raymond Pira, accused Chevron and other relevant stakeholders of failing to carry Ugborodo community along in projects affecting the area.
“We have been marginalised for too long. We are not being carried along in decisions that concern our land and our people,” Pira said.
He alleged that while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) handled certain contracts such as electricity, Chevron was responsible for workforce employment and other infrastructural projects in the community.
“Chevron is in charge of employment and workforce matters. As for the electricity project, the work has been completed, but the cables have not been installed. This is unacceptable,” he added.
The First Vice President of the Itsekiri National Youth Council and Ode Ugborodo Youth Chairman, Mr. Louis Mogborukor, called on Chevron and NNPCL to urgently comply with the PIA by constituting the Host Community Development Trust committee in Ugborodo.
“They concluded the PIA process in Abuja, but they have not come here to constitute and implement it in Ugborodo. That is wrong,” Mogborukor said.
He further alleged that some employments had been given to people from Port Harcourt, while no indigene of Ugborodo was considered.
“Our community was ignored completely. This is our land, yet our people are not benefiting,” he stated.
Placards displayed by the protesters bore inscriptions such as “Follow Community Local Content,” “Chevron EGTL, Please Employ Our Indigenes,” “70% Direct Chevron Slot for Ugborodo Community,” and “This Land Belongs to Ugborodo Community.”
Also speaking, the National Youth Vice Chairman, Mr. Udonju Laju Victor, supported the protest, demanding provision of potable water, electricity and employment opportunities for Ugborodo youths.
The Youth President of Ugborodo community, Mr. Wilson Eneh, called on the Federal government to urgently intervene to prevent escalation of tension in the oil-producing community.
The protest remained peaceful as at the time of filing this report, with the demonstrators insisting that they would continue until Chevron’s top management addressed their demands.