Delta State: Ugborodo 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 protracted protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited, (CNL) “to give room for further discussions”.
However, the community also said that it has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC) to negotiate with them as per the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
These were part of the resolutions adopted by the community from a general meeting held at the community’s town hall in Ode-Ugborodo.
Those in attendance at the meeting includes Chief Ayirimi Emami from Warri Kingdom, Eghare Daniel Uwawah, the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo community, Prince Perry Atete, among other Ugborodo indigenes.
One of the Ugborodo community leaders, Mr Alex Eyengho, while addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, explained that the community suspended the protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited, to give room for further discussions.
Eyengho revealed that Ugborodo community has held several meetings with CNL after its recent protest against the multinational oil company, adding that “Chevron is showing some commitment as it concerns the PIA”.
He hinted 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”.
Eyengho highlighted that Ugborodo community demanded a “Trust” that is different from others in Itsekiri land, stressing that indigenes of Ugborodo community have resolved as an autonomous community that its Trust should now be known as “Ekpere Host Communities Development Trust”.
He disclosed that there has been a tripartite meeting between Ugborodo community, CNL and the National Regulatory Commission over the matter, adding that “the action is not a disrespect to anyone but in compliance to what the PIA stipulates”.
Eyengho also announced 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 cautioned 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”, he added.
On his part, the Personal Assistant to the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo community, Joseph Uwawah corroborated the claims made by Alex Eyengho to the journalists.
