July 19, 2002
Posted to the web July 19, 2002

Sola Adebayo

The face-off between Ugborodo and Ugboegungun women and the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) over the seizure of the Escravos tank farm continued Tuesday just as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) S.A.K. Foundation warned against the use of force to dislodge the women from the multi-billion naira crude oil loading facility.

The Itsekiri women groups from Warri South West local government council of Delta State seized the installation ten days ago to protest the alleged neglect of their communities by Chevron in the past 32 years of its operation in the areas.

Uptill now, the women of Ugborodo and Ugboegungun communities have shunned all pleas and entreaties for them to vacate the installation and return home.

The situation at CNL's Escravos operation was worsened on Tuesday when another women group from Ijaw clan of Gbaramatu joined the fray by hijacking four oilflow stations located in their areas.

Both Ijaw and Itsekiri women groups have turned the CNL's tank farm and flow stations into their temporary places of abode.

Respected indigenes of the state, including the state governor, Chief James Ibori and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II have intervened in the unending feud to no avail.

Leader of the Ugborodo women, Madam Anunu Uwawah told Vanguard Tuesday that her kinsmen would not leave the facility until a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stating their "gains" from the protest was signed by CNL management.

Meanwhile, S.A.K. Foundation, said it fully aligns with the plight of CNL's host communities, warning that the agitation against the company might escalate.

President of the Foundation, Mr. Oritsejolomi Samuel at a news conference in Warri advised the federal government against a military option in dislodging the women.

He added that "the Ugborodo community accounts for about 625,000 barrels of oil per day through the NNPC/Chevron joint venture, yet the community cannot boast of the basic infrastructure let alone a road to assess their community."

"Their ecological system has been destroyed by years of oil exploitation and left worsted with only the payment of lip service. Ironically, this is a community that has played host to Chevron for abut 30 years."