CHEVRON, COMMUNITIES BICKER OVER OIL SPILL

Hopes of an amicable resolution of the face-off between Chevron Nigeria Limited and hosts to its Otunana and Abiteye facilities were dashed during the weekend as the aggrieved communities gave the company 7-day ultimatum over the crude oil spills.



Our correspondent gathered that communities have revived plans to invade the facilities again on the expiration of the ultimatum on Thursday morning.



The communities, including Kokodiagbene and about eight others, have been at daggers drawn with CNL over crude oil spill from the Utonana Well 8D and Abiteye Flow station Jacket 7 Line 2D oil spill.



A warning letter dispatched to Chevron on Thursday said “It is pertinent to refresh your (CNL) memory on the decision taken at Abuja (National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency). It was jointly agreed by all affected parties that the decision of NOSDRA that the impacted area be delineated to make room for further discussion on the assessment, negotiation and payment of compensation.



“We have virtually waited for nearly two weeks for the implementation of the decision. As a way forward in our peaceful disposition, we ask you to fix a date for the delineation within 7 days from the date of this letter,” the letter added.



The communities accused Chevron of reneging on the later part, even though fresh hope of peaceful resolution of the disagreement was raised last week after the host and impacted communities accepted relief materials donated by CNL.



Our correspondent gathered that further negotiations broke down last week following the communities’ insistence that the spill occurred as a result of equipment failure and demand fro due process in its assessment.



Although no competent CNL official could be reached for comment a reliable source accused some members of the communities of “interfering with the valves that cause the spill in order to get undue financial benefits.”





Our source said the company is only willing to dole out some money to the communities in order to maintain the cordial relationship but not to pay compensation for the spill.



Conversely, community members said Chevron’s claim was a ploy to avoid due process in assessing the extent of damage and payment of adequate compensation for the communities whose source of livelihood have been affected by the spill.



An executive member of the Impacted Host Communities of Otunana and Abiteye, told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that “We (communities) have beenr reliably informed that Chevron want to give us peanuts as ex-gratia payment so as to avoid due process.



“That is the reason why we have given them this ultimatum, which expires at midnight on Thursday. If they refuse to follow the normal process, we would have no option but to invade the platforms and shut them down.”



Contacted, Sheriff Mulade, General Secretary of Kokodiagbene, confirmed that the community wrote to the company to intimate it of their intention to stop its operation if due process was not followed over the spill.



Nevertheless, Mulade, who spoke in a telephone chat, said he and other leaders of the communities are appealing to the youths to give peace a chance in the negotiation process.