Protesting indigenes of Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, have seized the Escravos Crude Loading Terminal operated by the American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL).
The protesters, it was learnt, occupied the strategic facility in the past 10 days, thus threatening its optimal and efficient operations.
Oil industry watchers, on Sunday expressed concerns that the exportation of 34,000 barrels of crude oil per day, by the terminal, may be halted, if the action persists.
The terminal consists of fixed platform, for loading export crude and LPG FSO, for exportation. It has an initial capacity of 34,000 barrels per day.
The protesters adamantly occupied the facility on Sunday, fueling fears that the action may be prolonged.
In furtherance of the action, protesters have prevented supplies to CNL’s offshore operation.
A team of CNL’s top management staff, who visited the scene on Friday, apparently to persuade the protesters to return home, were rebuffed.
The team was led by CNL’s Area Manager, Warri, Mr. Rilawanu Momodu. Other CNL’s workers in the team were Coordinator, Offshore Operations and Terminal Facilities, Mr. Taribo Yellow; Coordinator, Public and Government Affairs, Mr. Happy Apai and Superintendent, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Mike Kabi.
The protesters told the Chevron team that they would not vacate the facility until their grievances are addressed and their demands are met.
The protesters in their 11-point demand insisted among others, that Ugborodo community be treated as a Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), lack of water and electricity in the community; exclusion of Ugborodo citizens from procurement process and direct employment by CNL and enactment of labour law to empower Ugborodo host community to get a percentage of the company’s job slot in the Escravos Loading Terminal.
The protesters also protested alleged exploitation and casualisation of workers of Ugborodo origin; sacking of workers from the community without terminal benefits under the guise of retirement at the age of 65 years or after 35 years of service and conversion of “inhuman service contract to labour contract.”
Leaders of the protesters, Mr. Isaac Botosan and Mr. Perry Atete, vowed that they would not suspend the action until the management of the oil conglomerate take convincing steps to meet their demands.
CNL’s Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs Department (PGPA), Mr. Victor Anyaegbudike, declined to react to the story.
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