Credible pieces of information obtained by Fresh Angle International today, Tuesday November 15, has revealed plot by Contractors in the 23 communities that make up the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, to close access to Chevron Nigeria Limited Dockyard in Escravos (Ugborodo) and protest at the company’s Tank Farm in same Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State, by Monday November 21, over non-payment for jobs executed.

Recall that the aggrieved contractors had on Friday October 14, threatened to “take the bull by the horns”, if nothing positive was done a week after, regarding money owed them.

The contractors, stormed the IRDC Secretariat in Warri same day (Friday October 14, 2022) before dispatching a delegation to Fresh Angle International’s Office, also in Warri, Delta State for media engagement, lamenting: “Interests in the loan we took, are cumulating. We were supposed to offset the loan last month (September 2022) till now, we have not been able to offset the loans and this month the interest is accruing”.

One of the contractors, Hon. Wilson Omajugho, who spoke to This Flagship Niger Delta Online Newspaper, on behalf of others, had explained: “We are here, because they gave us contract and the award letters given to us, indicated that two weeks after receiving the award letter, if we don’t mobilize to site, the letter will be withdrawn from us.

“For that reason, we went ahead to borrow money to start the project, because they didn’t mobilize us. They (the leadership of IRDC) said we should go and source for money to execute the projects. The projects were awarded precisely in July. The money we borrowed elapsed last month (September 2022) and we have done the jobs to the extent they ought to have paid us. They said we must get to the level of gable, before money will be paid and we have attained that level, they ought to have paid us about a month ago. When we called the management of IRDC, they will ignore our calls.

This Newspaper understands that the plot by the contractors to obstruct Chevron’s operation at Escravos next Monday, is hinged on their believe that the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited, has allegedly refused to release money to the leadership of Itsekiri RDC to pay them for jobs executed, “despite the necessary approval by the Community Engagement Management Board (CEMB) comprising Officials of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Delta State Government, representatives of IRDC leadership, representatives of the three Warri Local Government Councils and other critical stakeholders”.

×