Ifie-Kporo youths shut Chevron wells 24, 25 in Delta over host status
- Youths and women from Ifie-Kporo in Warri South, Delta State, stormed the Macaraba oil field by speedboat on Wednesday.
- They shut operations at Wells 24 and 25, which Chevron Nigeria operates, demanding recognition as a host community.
- Chevron had not commented at press time, and the volume of crude affected was not immediately known.
Operations at Wells 24 and 25 in the Macaraba oil field, Delta State, stopped on Wednesday after people from Ifie-Kporo community in Warri South Local Government Area occupied the site. The wells are operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The group, made up mainly of youths and women, travelled to the field in several speedboats from about 7am, according to Punch. They carried placards asking the company to recognise Ifie-Kporo as a host community or leave.
The Nation reported that Chevron shut down operations at OML 25 and moved workers off the field. The three outlets that covered the protest did not give the amount of crude oil affected.
What the community is asking for
The protesters say Wells 24 and 25 sit on Ifie-Kporo ancestral land. They want Chevron to treat their community as a host under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the 2021 law that sets out how oil companies must engage and share benefits with communities where they operate.
They also asked for jobs for their young people. One placard read, “Employ Our Youths,” Vanguard reported.
The community pointed to Gulf, an earlier operator, which they say recognised Ifie-Kporo as host. They want Chevron to follow that example.
“We are tired of the deceitful and irresponsible game Chevron has been playing with us,” one protester told journalists, according to Punch and The Nation.
Vanguard quoted a youth who gave his name as Tosan saying the company had been unfair to the community. The protesters said they would stay at the field until their demands are met, and warned that continued neglect could disturb the peace of the area.
Punch reported that efforts to reach Chevron for comment were unsuccessful. The Nation said the company had not responded to a message on the matter at press time.
Why it matters beyond Delta
Crude from onshore wells like these feeds into the oil earnings that fund the federal budget and the monthly allocations shared by states and local governments. A long shutdown at any producing field trims output, and Nigeria has been trying to lift production.
Host community disputes are common in the Niger Delta, where communities often say oil firms use their land without sharing benefits as the PIA requires.
For people living near the field, the immediate concerns are jobs and a share in development. For the rest of the country, the question is how quickly the wells come back on stream.
What happens next
The protesters say they will remain at the site until Chevron recognises Ifie-Kporo as a host community. Chevron has not publicly responded. It is not yet clear whether the company, the community or government agencies will open talks to end the standoff.
