For the fourth day running, scores of Itsekiris have sealed up Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) facility in Warri, Delta, over the company’s alleged refusal to inaugurate Warri Kingdom Onshore Host Communities Development Trust as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act.

The protest started on Monday morning with canopies mounted in front of the CNL facility along the NPA express road.

Mounted also at the gate of the entrance of the Chevron facility, amid local war chants, is an effigy that looks like a coffin said to be symbolic of “death to oppressors.”

The protesters, including youths and women, old and young, were armed with placards and engaged in the non-stop carnival-like protest, cooking, eating, singing and dancing to vibes from a disc jockey.

CNL workers, who should board choppers to Escravos facility, were seen stranded in front of the Chevron gate with their luggage.

Speaking at the protest ground, a member of the Warri Kingdom Onshore HCDT, Oti Edukugho, Esq. said having registered the trust with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), CNL hasn’t deemed it fit to inaugurate it despite several correspondences to that effect.”It became very clear that CNL had no intention whatsoever to register the WARRI KINGDOM ONSHORE HCDT after all the processes the host communities went through with the nominations.

“We finally got registered on the 29th of May 2024, and we have been engaging and writing letters asking CNL to do the needful by inaugurating the duly registered HCDT.

“All CNL keeps telling us is that they are being threatened by some faceless individuals.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all we have been asking is for CNL to inaugurate the duly registered HCDT as a matter of urgency, so that the various host communities that constitute the HCDT can begin to enjoy the developments and other sundry benefits.

“Considering the fact that we are supposed to have been registered long before the end of 2023, it is ironic that the settlor that is saddled with the responsibility of the registration and transition process from GMOU to HCDT in accordance with the PIA are the ones refusing to do the needful,” he noted.

A letter was addressed to CNL on June 18, 2024, requesting the inauguration of the trust and the board of trustees.

“We are aware that the above mentioned HCDT has been registered since the 29th day of May2024, after the long and winding process of overcoming the unnecessary/time wasting objection from the Aja-Metan Community, an objection that was actually filed out of time in the first instance.

“Kindly note, that as representatives of our various communities, we have been inundated with calls and questions about the way forward with particular regard to the inauguration of the board of trustees and the subsequent setting up of the management committee in line with the regulations of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“The absence of the awaited Board of Trustees is causing undue restiveness in our communities knowing that we have already wasted almost a year in the pursuit of the registration,” the letter signed by Mr. Slim Eburajolo, Mr. George Iluwa, Engr. Clement Carpe, Mr. Atie Oneyor and Dr. Mike Eyide, had read.

A follow-up letter with copies sent to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Benson Agadaga, Chairman Senate Committee on Oil And Gas Host Communities, Hon. Dekor Robinson, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser Office and Engr.Gbenga Komolafe, CEO, NUPRC, the Warri Kingdom Onshore Host Communities Development Trust, was addressed to the Managing Director Chevron Nigeria Ltd Lagos, on July 22, 2024, reminded the company of the need to inaugurate the community’s trust as stipulated in the PIA.

The letter, also signed by Mr. Slim Eburajolo, Mr. George Iluwa,

Engr. Clement Carpe, Mr. Atie Oneyor and Dr. Mike Eyide, reads: “the letter dated the 18th June, 2024, we wrote to request that, subsequent to the 29n May, 2024 registration of the Registered Trustees of Warri Kingdom Onshore Host Communities Development Trust, the Board of Trustees be inaugurated in order for the provisions of the PIA relating to the development of the Host Communities to be implemented.

“Your staff, Mr. Happy Apai, whom you designated as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, at various times communicated to us that the leadership of Chevron has been briefed on the request and that we should expect a response soon. This was over two weeks ago and sadly; we have not received any such response.

“As you may be aware, protests; albeit peaceful ones, have already commenced in the Host Communities with calls for the immediate inauguration of the Board and the implementation of the development envisaged by the PIA.

“It is imperative that the Board of Trustees be immediately inaugurated so that the benefits envisaged by the PIA can percolate to the Communities.

“The alternative cannot be contemplated as the citizens of the Communities have almost reached their forbearance limits,” it added.

As of the time of filing the report, authorities of CNL have not addressed the protesting Itsekiri.

Meanwhile, feelers have it that Governor Oborevwori will visit the protesters before the end of Thursday, just as the protesters are insisting that officials of CNL who should address them must come from the headquarters in Lagos. (Nigerian Tribune)

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