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, stop on Wednesday after people from Ifie-Kporo community in Warri South Local Government Area occupy the site. Chevron Nigeria Limited dey operate the wells.
The group, wey mainly youths and women, travel go the field in several speedboats from about 7am, according to Punch. They carry placards dey ask the company to recognise Ifie-Kporo as a host community or leave.
The Nation report say Chevron shut down operations at OML 25 and move workers off the field. The three outlets wey cover the protest no give the amount of crude oil wey affect.
Wetin the community dey ask 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 wey set out how oil companies must engage and share benefits with communities where they operate.
They also ask for jobs for their young people. One placard read, “Employ Our Youths,” Vanguard report.
The community point to Gulf, an earlier operator, wey they say recognise Ifie-Kporo as host. They want Chevron to follow that example.
“We don tire for the deceitful and irresponsible game Chevron dey play with us,” one protester tell journalists, according to Punch and The Nation.
Vanguard quote one youth wey give im name as Tosan say the company don unfair the community. The protesters say they go stay at the field until their demands meet, and warn say continued neglect fit disturb the peace of the area.
Punch report say efforts to reach Chevron for comment no work. The Nation say the company never respond to message on the matter at press time.
Why e matter beyond Delta
Crude from onshore wells like these dey feed into the oil earnings wey dey fund the federal budget and the monthly allocations wey states and local governments dey share. A long shutdown at any producing field go reduce output, and Nigeria don dey try to lift production.
Host community disputes common for Niger Delta, where communities often talk say oil firms dey use their land without sharing benefits as the PIA require.
For people wey dey live near the field, the immediate concerns na jobs and a share in development. For the rest of the country, the question na how quick the wells go come back on stream.
Wetin go happen next
The protesters say they go remain at the site until Chevron recognise Ifie-Kporo as a host community. Chevron never publicly respond. E never clear whether the company, the community or government agencies go open talks to end the standoff.
