Saturn 1: Ugbeyen indigenes shutdown Chevron’s operation, vow to resist land acquisition

The people of Ugbeyen in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, today Monday February 10, shutdown Chevron’s operation at Ugbeyen Community, Olero Creek, over perceived plan by Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL to acquire 258.16 hectares of land, cutting across different communities for the company’s Saturn 1 Location without their involvement, saying their community falls within the aforementioned earmarked expanse of land.

Our Senior Correspondent who is covering the protest, reports that some of the Ugbeyen indigenes, stormed Chevron’s location with various placards, vowing not to leave the location until they are recognized as the main host community in the Saturn 1 Field Development Project.

Your Soaring International Tabloid can report that the placards carried inscriptions such as: “Don’t take us for fools”, “No peace for Chevron”, “Chevron respect your host community” and “Chevron you know what is right, do it now”.

Indigenes of the community had in letters addressed to the Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited and The General Manager, PGPA of the Company in Lekki-Lagos, stated: “The people of Ugbeyen Community are not unaware of Chevron’s plan to acquire 258.16 hectares of land cutting across different communities for its Saturn 1 Location and negotiations are on-going with different communities with respect to the acquisition of the aforesaid 258.16 hectares of land. Sadly, despite the fact that Ugbeyen Community entirely falls within the aforementioned earmarked  expanse of land, the Community has been side-lined in the on-going negotiation for land acquisition for Saturn 1 Location and all subtle entreaties to get Chevron to do the needful have been rebuffed.

Another Portion of land purportedly belonging to Ugbeyen Community, being used for Saturn 1 Field Development Project

“The entire people of Ugbeyen Community have vowed to resist Chevron’s quest to acquire their land without their involvement and are ready to do so with the last drop of their blood if need be. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, let every one of us give peace a chance. Ugbenyen Community is an autonomous indigenous Itsekiri community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State with a distinct territory and administrative structure. Ugbeyen Community is recognized as an independent community by the Palace of the Olu of Warri, Warri North Local Government, Delta State Government and the Federal Government and their agencies.

“The Community is a beneficiary of some developmental projects by the different tiers of government, international organisations and even Chevron Nigeria Limited (hereinafter simply referred to as Chevron). Ugbeyen Community is host to some Chevron oil wells and pipelines. More importantly, the entire territory of Ugbeyen Community falls within the earmarked 258.16 hectares of land Chevron intends to acquire for its Saturn 1 Location.”

The letters dated January 13 and 22, signed by Hon. Macson Ebiareneyin and Mr. Appearance Tongbe, Chairman and Secretary of Ugbeyen Community respectively, averred: “Be it known to Chevron that Ugbeyen Community is not only impacted by the Saturn 1 Location project, but it is a critical host whose land is about to be acquired without its involvement and this does not mean well for peace and the people of Ugbeyen Community are not going to take this brazen neglect and deprivation lying down.

“Chevron should do well to involve Ugbeyen Community in the on-going negotiation for Saturn 1 Location land acquisition as anything short of this would be an invitation for anarchy, a word is enough for the wise.

“The elders and the leadership of Ugbeyen Community are presently having hard times suppressing aggrieved youths from approaching the issue violently hence the peace that is being witnessed. Suffice it however to say that this is not going to last for a long time as there is a limit to human tolerance. The elders and the leadership of the Community have pleaded for time to iron the issue out with Chevron if only Chevron would do the needful in the circumstance.” 

Portion of land purportedly belonging toUgbeyen Community, being used for Saturn 1 Field Development Project

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