Indigenes of the Ugborodo federated communities in Warri South-West Local Government of Delta State unanimously said they are on the same page with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as far as the extant laws of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and its implementation are concerned.
They insisted that they are not against “the Olu of Warri, the Palace, and/or the other Itsekiri communities.”
The community’s position was made known in a public statement issued at a general meeting held at Ode-Ugborodo town hall.
A leader in Ugborodo, Alex Eyengho, who read the public statement on behalf of the community, noted that Ugborodo indigenes unanimously reaffirmed their earlier chosen name, “Ikpere Host Community Development Trust (Ikpere HCDT), for the implementation of the PIA.”
Eyengho averred: “Ugborodo Community remains steadfast on the insistence that the extant laws of the PIA and the accompanying Regulations of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) must be followed religiously in the implementation of the PIA, particularly as it concerns the constitution of members of the trustees, management committee, and advisory committee.
“Ugborodo community and the NUPRC are on the same page on the all-important issue of adherence to the relevant laws and regulations guiding the implementation of the PIA in all ramifications, and this much has been made known by the NUPRC to the settlors (Chevron, Shell and other international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Ugborodoland.
“The interventions of the Delta State Government in the lingering issue concerning the implementation of the PIA in Ugborodo community, have been only to the extent of advocating for peace in the area and further advising the Ugborodo community to settle her internal problems.
“Ugborodo Community maintains her earlier position already in the public domain that it is not in any way whatsoever going against the Olu of Warri, the Palace, and/or the other Itsekiri communities.
“All the Ugborodo community has said and still maintains until tomorrow is that the extant laws must be followed religiously in the implementation of the PIA, particularly in Ugborodo land. As the host community, Ugborodo is big enough to have her own separate HCDT, without prejudice to other host communities in Itsekiri land who may want to be lumped together under one HCDT. To this end, and for the purposes of emphasis, the Ikpere Host Community Development Trust (Ikpere-HCDT) has since been adopted by the good people of Ugborodo community. This is our irreducible position on the issue of the implementation of PIA in Ugborodo community.
“We are using this opportunity to give Chevron, Shell, and other settlors operating in Ugborodo Community, and the NUPRC a period of 30 days ultimatum from today, July 29, 2023, within which to follow the extant laws and regulations of the PIA by giving to Ugborodo Community the Ikpere Host Community Development Trust (Ikpere-HCDT), in the overall interest of peace, enabling environment, equity, justice, and fair play. After the expiration of this ultimatum, Ugborodo community shall take her destiny in her hands, but within the ambit of the law. A stitch in time saves nine.”
Newspot recalls that the community in times past had staged peaceful protests calling on Chevron Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and other settlors to dialogue with them over the PIA and the name they preferred to use.
Chevron’s manager of communication, Victor Anyaegbudike, didn’t pick up telephone calls, nor did he respond to text and WhatsApp messages sent to him.
SPDC’s manager of Public and Government Affairs also didn’t respond to calls.
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