Host Communities Are Suffering Over Alleged Marginalization and Neglect By Chevron

Anger is mounting among host communities in Delta State as the people of  Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ugborodo, both hosts to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s operations in the Escravos axis over alleged neglect and marginalisation. On Tuesday the youth of Ugborodo, staged a peaceful protest over what they described as years of marginalisation, neglect, and exclusion in employment and basic social amenities.

The protesters vowed not to vacate the premises until senior officials of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) addressed their grievances, insisting that persistent neglect had deepened hardship among oil-bearing communities in the Escravos area.

While the protest was spearheaded by Ugborodo youths, community leaders emphasised that the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, who are equally hosts to Chevron’s Escravos operations, suffer the same fate of marginalisation, particularly in employment opportunities, infrastructure, and access to basic social amenities.

The peaceful demonstration, which began on Monday, drew youths and community leaders carrying placards demanding employment, electricity, potable water, and full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Some of the placards read:
“Follow Community Local Content,”
“Chevron EGTL, Please Employ Our Indigenes,”
“70% Direct Chevron Slot for Host Communities,”
and “This Land Belongs to Ugborodo People.”

Addressing journalists at the protest ground, the Secretary-General of the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC), Comrade Raymond Pira, accused Chevron and other stakeholders of failing to carry host communities along in decisions affecting their land.

“We have been marginalised for too long. Ugborodo community is suffering neglect despite being hosts to Chevron’s operations. We are not being carried along in decisions that concern our land and our people,” Pira said.

He alleged that while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) handled some contracts such as electricity, Chevron was directly responsible for employment and other infrastructural commitments.

“Chevron is in charge of employment and workforce matters. As for the electricity project, the work has been completed, but the cables have not been installed. This situation affects Ugborodo community and is unacceptable,” he added.

The First Vice President of INYC and Ode Ugborodo Youth Chairman, Mr. Louis Mogborukor, called on Chevron and NNPCL to urgently comply with the PIA by constituting the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) for the affected communities.

“They concluded the PIA process in Abuja, but they have not come to the communities Ugborodo to implement it. That is wrong and against the spirit of the law,” Mogborukor stated.

He further alleged that employment opportunities linked to Chevron’s operations had been given to people outside the host communities, including individuals from Port Harcourt, while indigenes of Ugborodo are ignored.

This is our land. Chevron operates here, yet our people are not benefiting. That injustice must stop,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Youth Vice Chairman, Mr. Udonju Laju Victor, demanded immediate provision of potable water, electricity, and employment opportunities for youths of Ugborodo Kingdom.

Similarly, the Youth President of Ugborodo community, Mr. Wilson Eneh, called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to prevent escalation of tension in the oil-producing axis.

“The grievances of host communities have been ignored for too long. If urgent steps are not taken, the situation may spiral beyond control,” Eneh warned.

As of the time of filing this report, the protest remained peaceful, with demonstrators insisting they would sustain the action until Chevron’s top management engages them directly and addresses their demands.