PIA: Delta Community Suspend Protests against Chevron, Gives SPDC June 9 Deadline for Engagement

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Relief has come the way of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) as the people of oil rich Ugborodo in Warri South West Local Government area of Delta State have suspended their siege to the company in protest against it’s non implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act ( PIA) in the community.
The indigenes of Ugborodo Federated Communities had since May 20, been protesting at the Chevron terminal over failure of the oil company to engage them in the implementation of the PIA as enshrined in the act.

A prominent leader in the community, Mr. Alex Eyengho, who addressed journalists at the end of a general meeting held at the community town hall at Ode-Ugborodo, over the weekend, said the people of the community have suspended further protests against Chevron to give room for further negotiations.
According to him, the community had held several meetings with Chevron management since the commencement of the protests and had to suspend their action for more engagements towards finding peaceful resolutions to their demands.

Eyengho, also said there had been a tripartite meeting between Ugborodo Community, Chevron and the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission over the matter adding “Chevron is showing some commitment as it concerns the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.”
For peace to reign and make the environment conducive for business operations of Chevron, the community leader disclosed that Ugborodo Community demanded a “Trust” different from others in Itsekiri land.
He said indigenes of Ugborodo  community resolved as an autonomous Community that its Trust should now be known as “Ekpere Host Communities Development Trust”.

He stressed that the action was not a disrespect to anyone but in compliance to what the PIA stipulates.
Eyengho also disclosed that the oil-rich community had issued Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which also operates in its domain a seven-day notice to come and negotiate with them directly the way CNL is currently is doing.

“The PIA is clear. It’s host community based. Follow the law to the latter,” he said, warning that should SPDC fail to heed to its demands, Ugborodo Community would do what’s right within the ambit of the law in a peaceful protest against the oil company.

“CNL is doing the right thing. We have served SPDC seven-day notice to comply with the extant law guiding the PIA”, he added.
The Personal Assistant to the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo community, Joseph Uwawah, corroborated the claims of Mr. Alex Eyengho, insisting that PIA, ” is purely community based” and  expressed hope that the ongoing discussions between Ugborodo and Chevron Nigeria Limited, results in fruitful conclusion.

He maintained that people of Ugborodo, would continually stand against any company operating in their land and dealing with people whose tenure have elapsed, describing such people as fifth columnists and impostors.