FOR allegedly excluding their community in its welfare programmes despite alleged environmental pollution in the area, the people of Obe-Nla in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have threatened to shut down the operations of the American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in its domain.
The community said they have given Chevron one month ultimatum to right the wrongs, threatening that if by the end of February, nothing was done to address the matter they would shut down oil locations in the area.
One of the demands of the community is the payment of N250 million compensation, which they claimed had been agreed as a settlement claim at a meeting since July 2002.
Also, the community wants the implementation of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) agreement under the Ilaje Regional Development Commission (IRDC).
In a petition recently, the community accused CNL for allegedly neglecting them since 28 years when it started its hydrocarbon activities in the area.
They lamented that all they have gotten from the oil firm is outright denial of benefits, exclusion from the list of host communities as well as marginalisation and environmental degradation.
“We have never benefited any developmental programme from Chevron,” spokesman of Obe-Nla, Prince Eko Isinmi Okolo, said.