Environmental Degradation: Ex-Militants Threaten Protest Against Chevron

Former militants in the Niger Delta region have threatened to embark on protest on offices and facilities of American oil giant, Chevron, across Nigeria, if the firm refuses to respond to their two key demands by Saturday, November 30, 2013.

The former militants, under the aegis of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), said one of the demands, which they made on behalf of the people of the Niger Delta region, is a thorough clean-up of host communities and their environment throughout the region before the execution of the company’s divestment plan.

The other demand, according to the group, is the payment of adequate compensation to individuals, groups, and communities which have brought forward claims of damages concerning the K.S. Endeavour gas blow-out incident of January 16, 2012 in OPL 247.

In a letter signed by its national president, Pastor Reuben Wilson, and addressed to the Chairman/CEO, Chevron Corporation in California,  United States of America, LPCDI noted that decades of oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria by international oil companies including Chevron Nigeria Limited has brought untold pain and suffering to the region.

The letter reads in part; “We are speaking for the voiceless downtrodden and exploited masses of the Niger Delta region. The pains and grievances of the neglected masses of the region, occasioned by the nonchalant attitude of international oil companies including Chevron Nigeria Limited birthed the armed struggle in the Niger Delta region.

“It is no longer secret that Chevron Corporation, through its Nigerian subsidiary Chevron Nigeria Limited is planning to divest its interest and stake in some oil blocks in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. We see this as a ploy by your company to run away after decades of committing atrocious acts against the environment and people of the region. Your operations in Nigeria have been characterized with outright abuse, violation of environmental rights of the communities, negligence, crisis etc.”

Source: Leadership