Over the years, Chevron Nigeria limited has been operating with strict apartheid policies against the Itsekiri’s, its host and this must stop now. About 70% of its oil production in Nigeria comes from Itsekiri land with about 40,000 barrels per day.
Ureju is a major oil producing Community in its Dibi Field Operation. A cursory look at the host community (Ureju) compare with Chevron staff quarters will display a two world apart, similar to the grotesque world of difference, painted by Charles Dickson in his novel “Hard Times’’.
Ureju people deserve to live in a better environment equipped with life enhancing facilities like what you have in chevron staff quarters. Our community needs shore protection, sand filling, portable water, health care center and electricity from its oil contribution to the national wealth.
The Federal Government of Nigeria in its wisdom gave a directive that all oil companies to relocate their headquarters to their major areas of operations, which other IOC responded to positively ‘Mobil, Agip, SHELL and NLNG relocated their headquarters to Eket, Port-Harcourt and Eleme respectively.
It therefore stands to reason that Chevron headquarters ought to have been relocated to Warri from Lagos, where it has no single oil well. This will enable quick response to the development of host communities, Chevron must of necessity, relocate its headquarters to Warri or pack out of our land.
Presently, the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC), Chevron oppressive initiative is in litigation crisis over leadership tussle engineered by Chevron. The community must not be allowed to suffer untold hardship due to no fault of theirs.
Consequent upon the above, it becomes imperative that the only institution of trust under the Itsekiri Nation is the Olu of Warri’s Palace. Therefore, all correspondence and activities either to have been handled by IRDC should be channeled through the palace for even distribution to all concern.
Similarly, Chevron close camp policy in all its areas of operation is reminiscence of the German concentration of 2nd world war, this is done to estrange the workers from their local community, therefore depriving those who could not get work from Chevron and other economic activities like petty trading.
This practice of economic deprivation must stop because no sensitive organization in this modern world operates a close camp.
Perhaps, Chevron education policy needs to be re-examined. Chevron prided itself for paying N20, 000 for secondary school for one year and N75, 000 for tertiary institution per session (Yearly). If one may ask, how many Chevron personnel pays N20,000 monthly for their child Crèche’s fee to justify its handout to communities in a whole year in the name of scholarship. This policy must be reviewed to reflect modern day economic reality. This hypocrisy must stop now.
We say no to Chevron headquarters in Lagos!
We say no to Chevron oppressive IRDC!
We say no to Chevron handouts in the name of scholarship!
We say no to Chevron close camp policy!
Chevron must obey its landlord or quit our land!
Signed:
Chairman Ureju Community
Tonwe Eniyan Henry
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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