Oil Spillage: We will go nowhere until Chevron meet our demands, says protesting Benikrukru communities

By Enaibo Asiayei

Solomon Eris, chairman of the aggrieved Benikrukru communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, has warned that there
will be no end in sight to the continued occupation of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) facility until the management of the company meets with the communities’ at the ceased facility and addresses the kernel of their demands.

Mr. Eris, who is protesting the recent spillage occasioned by a fractured part of the company’s pipeline within the community, gave this indication on Monday, March 29th, 2021, while speaking with newsmen when they visited the now ceased oil facility.

According to the community Chairman, “this time around, it is not going to be business as usual for Chevron Nigeria Limited. We are going to remain here until the Group’s Managing Director leaves his cosy office and comes down here and addresses us.”

“We have made our point clear and simple. The MD and his management team must come here and address us. Until that is done, we are going nowere. We are going to remain here. This is the first stage.

“No matter how long Chevron Nigeria Limited lives in denial, the situation is not going to change. They recently in a statement denied oil spill from their 16′ Abiteye, Makaraba and Utonana fields in CNL’s Western area of operations in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. We expect Chevron management to come down here and tell us that trash.”

Speaking further, he noted that the community is working in conjunction with other communities that are also affected by the spillage to ensure a total close down of Chevron operations in the kingdom.

“We must ensure that their business here is paralyzed, he concluded.

Other conditions according to the community, the oil giant is expected to meet before they could reach a truce including but not limited to provisions of alternative and habitable accommodations, and relief materials/medical supplies to the victims.

Most importantly, the protesters are demanding adequate compensation (financial/material) for individuals and affected communities.

In addition to the above, the chairman insisted that the Company must set up a joint investigation committee to ascertain the level of damage done to the communities by the devastating oil spill from the organization’s flow station.

The protest which started on Friday, March 27th, 2021, has continued till date.