HUNDREDS of protesting women from the oil- rich Ugborodo community in Warri South-West council area of Delta State, yesterday, stormed the multi-million naira Escravos River Crossing Gas Pipeline Project site, ERCGP, and stopped all operations, demanding that the project intended to supply gas to the Nigerian Gas Company to power the nation be stepped down at Ugborodo or they would frustrate the continued execution of the project.
The women leader, Mrs. Mercy Olowu, told Sunday Vanguard that they would not allow the gas project to go on as it was with the Ogorode power station in Sapele where it took the Federal Government years after much violent struggle to build a step down before the people started enjoying light.
She said the peaceful protest was just the beginning as it was planned to take various shapes and dimensions.
The vice–chairman of the Ugborodo Community Trust, Mr. Isaac Botosan, said the protest would continue until the government addressed both the step down and the shore protection demands of the people, saying that Ugborodo accounts for 32% of the
oil and gas production in Delta State.
Attempts to get Chevron personnel to speak on the protest proved abortive even as they made frank efforts to reach some leaders of the community to appeal to the women.