Barely three weeks after being persuaded to vacate an oil facility belonging to the nation’s second largest oil company, Chevron Nigeria Limited which they occupied, the youths of Koluama community, hosts to Chevron’s operations in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, have threatened to resume occupation of the facility.
The youths said that their grouse against the company arose from its refusal to look into their demand for compensation following the 2012 rig explosion in a Chevron oil field in their area that left the community devastated.
It would be recalled that over 100 youths from Koluama community had besieged the North Apoi oil platform operated by Chevron on September 15 over non-payment of compensation following a rig blowout, and vacated the facility after officials of the oil firm and representatives of the federal government opted for dialogue.
The January 16th, 2012 explosion sparked fire incident, which burnt the oilrig for over 50 days before it was put out.
Mr. Leghemo Ebrasin, Secretary, Koluama Youths Association said the youths were dissatisfied by the stance of Chevron on the incident.
According to him, Chevron has remained insensitive to the plight of the communities, whose ancestral land is threatened by ocean surge following the incident, adding that the dialogue promised by Chevron has not yielded any fruit as the company fails to pay compensation as promised.
“Chevron must pay compensation for the KS Endeavour gas disaster before October 15. Otherwise we shall organise another massive protest at all Chevron fields in our environment, including Agbami oilfield producing about 250,000 barrels per day of crude equivalent.
“Payment of all community workers at the field when the incident occurred, establish an employment Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Koluama communities. Building of delayed gas plant in Koluama, as well as the payment of 13 per cent Chevron and Texaco merger bonus as applicable in the industry worldwide, we urge Chevron to comply,” Ebrasin said.
Mr. Deji Haastrup, Chevron’s General Manager, Communications Policy, Government and Public Affairs, however said the company remains committed to dialogue in resolving conflicts.
“Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), confirms that on Monday, September 15, 2014, some youths claiming to be from communities neighbouring our operations in Bayelsa State, who illegally boarded our North Apoi platform, off the coast of Nigeria have vacated the facility peacefully.
“No one on the platform was harmed and there was no damage to the facilities. CNL continues to advocate respect for the Rule of Law and the use of constructive dialogue in the resolution of all issues,” Chevron stated.
Culled from: http://www.thisdaylive.com
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