Chevron working with key stakeholders to resolve issues with local contractors’—Brikinn
Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has assured protesting local content contractors across Ijaw communities in Delta State that it is working with relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to their grounds for the recent protest at Chevron’s premises in Warri last week.
Business Hilights recalls that local contractors on Thursday last week, shut down the premises of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Warri, protesting what they termed marginalisation of their contractors by the oil giant.
The protesters, who were at the Chevron gate as early as 6a.m., prevented workers from entering and coming out of the company’s premises for several hours.
The protesters, comprising local contractors from Egbema, Gbaramatu, and Ogulagha communities, carried placards with inscriptions such as “35 LCC Ijaw beneficiaries demand payment”, “Enough of this tactical enslavement of Ijaws by Chevron”, “CNL pay our money”, “Happy must go”, “Chevron stop this insensitivity and show a human face”, among others.
Making presentation on behalf of the aggrieved contractors, Mr. Joel Tonjoh accused Chevron of treating the Ijaw contractors with disdain, adding that in the past two years, the company has refused to pay their contractors for services rendered.
He claimed that “If Chevron does not attend to us by paying us our money, we will shut down every offshore operations of Chevron in our their communities.
“We are angered by the fact that the other two communities, Itsekiri and Ilaje, have continued to receive payments from Chevron while the Ijaw beneficiaries have been left out.
“Despite several letters and petitions to Chevron, the company has continued to ignore us, telling us that they will do something. But up till now, Chevron is yet to do anything.
“The Ijaw LCCs have not been paid for the past two years. They are owing us over N200 million now, which is injustice. If this issue is not addressed, we will shut down operations in our area.
“We are not going to allow any personal boats to pass through our creeks.”
But in a swift response on the matter, Chevron’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, said, the company was “aware of issues raised by some Ijaw community youths in the Western Niger Delta”.
“We are working with relevant stakeholders for the peaceful resolution of the issues.
“At CNL, we continue to fulfill our contractual obligations to our employees, contractors and other suppliers in a timely manner.
“CNL reiterates its commitment to ethics and the respect for the Rule of Law in the resolution of issues.
“We continue to partner relevant stakeholders to support socio-economic development through our robust social investment programmes, within available resources and opportunities.”
Industry analysts say CNL has one of the best records in local contractors’ relations in the oil and gas industry.
