Delta community suspends protest against Chevron

The people of the oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State on Sunday announced the suspension of their lingering protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited “to give room for further discussions”.

But the community said it has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Shell Petroleum Development Company to negotiate with them as per the Petroleum Industry Act.

These were part of the resolutions adopted by the community following a general meeting held at the community’s town hall in Ode-Ugborodo.

In attendance at the meeting was Chief Ayirimi Emami from Warri Kingdom, Eghare Daniel Uwawah, the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo community, Prince Perry Atete and a cross-section of Ugborodo indigenes.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, one of the Ugborodo community leaders, Mr Alex Eyengho explained that the community suspended the protest against CNL to give room for further discussions.

While noting that Ugborodo community has held several meetings with CNL after its recent protest against the multinational oil company, Eyengho said that “Chevron is showing some commitment as it concerns the PIA”.

He pointed out that Ugborodo community had demanded in their recent protests that CNL should provide the community with electricity, water, empowerment and job opportunities for indigenes and “CNL has made commitments to attend it”.

He explained that Ugborodo community demanded a “Trust” different from others in Itsekiri land adding that, in this regard, indigenes of Ugborodo community have resolved as an autonomous community that its Trust should now be known as “Ekpere Host Communities Development Trust”.

Eyengho further stated that there has been a tripartite meeting between Ugborodo community, CNL and the National Regulatory Commission over the matter stressing that “the action is not a disrespect to anyone but in compliance to what the PIA stipulates”.

Eyengho also pointed out that Ugborodo community rose from its general meeting issuing a seven-day notice to Shell Petroleum Development Company, which also operates in its domain, “to come and negotiate with the community directly, the way CNL is currently doing”.

He warned that “should SPDC fail to heed to the demands, Ugborodo community will do what is right within the ambit of the law in a peaceful protest against the oil company”.

“The PIA is clear. It is host community-based. Follow the law to the latter”, Eyengho said.

Also speaking, the Personal Assistant to the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo community, Joseph Uwawah corroborated the claims of Mr Alex Eyengho.