Chevron is one of the oil companies exploring crude oil in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Its exploration activities have allegedly caused environmental pollution, which has affected the biodiversity of the Niger Delta areas, contaminating rivers and farms.
The Itsekiri people protested, claiming CNL would not explore their oil without assisting in the development of the oil producing communities, which were in shambles — no good roads, no hospitals and electricity supply and they no longer go to the river to fish — because of the pollution of the waterways. Itsekiri land was so uninhabitable that the indigenes had to relocate to Sapele and Warri.
Our reporter who went round Itsekiri Communities on personal assessment survey to assertained the level of development and CNL impart on the people reveal that sometimes in 2005, Chevron introduced a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) governance model to promote sustainable development and foster community engagement in its areas of operation in the Niger Delta, including Itsekiri communities.
The GMoU led to the establishment of IRDC whose function was to award contracts and execute various projects for the sustainable development of 24 oil-producing Itsekiri communities. The Council in partnership with Chevron tours the communities and the council proposes projects that could ameliorate the sufferings of the people, for which the company makes funds available.
The communities are located in Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West local government areas. They include Aja-Amita, Ajudaibo, Bateren, Deghele, Ebrohimi, Eghoro, Gbokoda, Ijaghala, Jakpa, Kolokolo, Madangho, Obaghoro, Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Omadino, Sagharatie, Tebu, Tisun, Udo, Ugboegungun, Ugbolegin, Ureju, and Usor.
Investigation reveal that since the commencement of the GMoU in 2005 to date, CNL in a response to some of the issues raised by indegenes of the aforementioned areas through its General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs,, claimed the company has disbursed over N7.2 billion to the IRDC. The company said the documents showing the disbursement of money to IRDC annually are available but cannot be shared.
After several years of IRDC in operation, Itsekiri communities are still in shambles as there is still no sustainable development as there is no weighty or elephant Project to justify the huge amount been released by CNL annually to IRDC yet there is no completed projects to equalized the rate of reckless spendings
Our reporter gathered that Itsekiri people not only believe that the Council embezzled the money; they also allege that Chevron Nigeria Limited connived with the Council to halt development in the communities. Chevron cannot leave America and come to Nigeria and take our monies and destroy our communities. Whatever money that is due to Itsekiri land, should be properly accounted for and spent for the benefit of the Itsekiri people not just for few men who overnight turn to billionaires and are now using the youths as their thugs,.
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