Local Content: You maligned Chevron for no reason, BrownHill tells INDI

The Chief Operating Officer, COO of BrownHill Group, Bemigho Wagbatsoma, says Itsekiri National Development Initiative, INDI, maligned Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, “for no reason” when the group accused the Oil and Gas Major of “dropping Itsekiri people unjustly” in its “operations.”

The Itsekiri National Development Initiative, had in an advertorial authored by its Chairman, Comr. Dennis Mene and published Sunday July 28 on This Pioneer Niger Delta Online Newspaper, claimed that despite the just concluded protest by some Itsekiris at the gate of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Warri, the company, “doesn't have regards for Itsekiri people.”

In his reaction to the advertorial, the Chief Operating Officer of BrownHill Group, Bemigho Wagbatsoma, who spoke to Fresh Angle International via telephone conference interview this afternoon, Tuesday July 30, stated: “All those accusations against Chevron, were unfounded. We had to conduct interviews in-line with the Local Content demand of our operational base, taking into cognizance the sensibilities of Itsekiris and other Nationalities. Unless an applicant was found to be grossly incompetent, then we had to put such applicant on a wait-list, while we look at what we want to do for you.

“Everybody knows the kind of love the Chairman of BrownHill Group, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, have for the Itsekiri ethnic group, that is why till tomorrow, he stands with Ogiame (The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III).

“In our organization, Brownhill, even when you look at the events that we do, Itsekiris like Oritsefemi and Flektaman, are always featuring very prominently. This is because we understand the dynamics regarding ethnic nationalities and the relationship with our people. So, it is not because we have been given a job and want to limit it. We have to look at what is the legislation, the Local Content, have we done less? The answer is No, because we have exceeded the Local Content requirement as it relates to recruitment.”

Mr. Wagbatsoma, further explained: “The PGPA (Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron Nigeria Limited) has a Local Content template, that we must meet. So, we made an open advertisement for people to turn in their CVs and applications, in-line with the Local Content recruitment template.

“We outperformed our quota to Itsekiri Nation, which is well above what is required by Local Content. We know the essence of involving the local communities."

·         Conference Interview Recorder/Transcriptor: Vivian Agbasoga Idu

Phone Number: 08082251678

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