Protesting indigenes of Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State Wednesday, besieged the Chevron Escravos Gas to Liquid (EGTL) facility taking along with them a heinous idol popularly known as “Ogbejugbele.”
According to some of the community members who spoke to journalists they were there at the oil station with their ‘Juju’ to make Chevron comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). And they would not leave until the firm agrees to compensate the community.
They tendered 41 demands, among which was a call for Chevron to implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Ikpere Host Community PIA as agreed by the National Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURPC), as well as give employment to youths and people of Ugborodo and Itsekiri indigenes.
“We have not received anything from Chevron. No employment, no contract. Even our elders, there is nothing to support them. They’re cheating on us,” a woman leader Helen Uremure said.
“Some of our boys are graduates, but Chevron refused to convert them. They’re just doing labourer’s jobs.”
A youth, Ukueyinden Ajuetsi, said the community lacks basic amenities like potable water and light, stressing that there’s no job for them.
A community leader, Joseph Ireyefoju, noted that there’s ongoing maintenance work in the facility but Chevron had brought workers from outside without considering the indigenes of Ugborodo community.
