The leadership of Ugborodo Community in Warri South – West Local Government Area of Delta state, has given the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, seven days, effective today Tuesday October 24, to action the verdict Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, purportedly handed down to CNL and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC regarding implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
Fresh Angle International, can report that the ultimatum, was contained in a letter dated Tuesday October 24 and addressed to the Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Lekki, Lagos state. The letter, which has the imprimatur of the Olaja – Ori of Ugborodo, Pa Benson Dube Omadeli, the Eghare – Aja of Ugborodo Community/ Chairman, Council of Elders, Eghare Daniel Uwawah, Secretary, Ugborodo Community Council of Elders, Pa Anderson Ebiekutan and the Igbajor of Ugborodo Community, Prince Perry Atete, copied the Chief Executive, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe.
The letter, cum ultimatum, stated in parts : “We are constrained at this point to state as follows, for your immediate action:
“Regarding the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Setors, particularly Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) operating in Ugborodo land and in some other key neighbouring host communities, have not deemed it fit to implement the PIA in accordance with the extant laws and regulations. This led to protests jointly carried out against CNL and SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Company) by Ugborodo, Deghele and Ugboegungun communities, up until the intervention of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) towards the end of August 2023.
” The NUPRC intervention climaxed in Abuja with a tripartite meeting between representatives of the three protesting communities, CNL and SPDC, with the NUPRC as the mediator/umpire. At the end of the two-day Abuja meetings, the NUPRC came out with a verdict in written communications sent to the aggrieved host communities, CNL and SPDC, with the following unambiguous directives to Chevron and SPDC:
“That Chevron/SPDC, “in consultation with the host should adopt a suitable name for the HCDT.
“That Chevron/SPDC, in consultation with the host communities, should expand the proposed membership of the HCDT Board of Trustees from five (5) to nine (9).
“Suffice it to say that the NUPRC in its written verdict to the Setlors and host communities, which was dated September 5 and 6, 2023, respectively, gave a two weeks deadline, for the implementation of the verdict. The deadline expired since September 20, 2023, without Chevron in particular, making any move whatsoever to meet with the host communities in this regard.
” As a result of the above very annoying and provocative but deliberate act of Chevron in particular, Ugborodo Community, in collaboration with other relevant host communities, hereby give a 7-day ultimatum to Chevron with effect from today October 24, 2023, to meet with the affected host communities to immediately implement the NUPRC verdict without further delay. If after the said ultimatum the NUPRC verdicts (i) and (ii) earlier captured above are not achieved, Ugborodo Community. in collaboration with other relevant host communities, shall embark on a total shutdown of facilities of the Setlors, particularly those of Chevron in an unprecedented manner, albeit within the ambit of the law.
“Thanking you in anticipation of your understanding and cooperation, even as we hope that you will make hay while the sun shines.”
Source: Fresh Angle
