Itsekiri Group Stage Protests Against Chevron …Demand Reopening Of Vocational Programme, Employment
By Ruth Omigie/Temi Boyo
WARRI/Nigeria: Protesters from Tisun Community in Warri North Local Government Area, have taken to Dibi Oil Field to protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The protest, according to the community, was coming after members of the community sent an ultimatum to the company, to address their demands before shutting down the oil field.
The protesters, who were seen at the Dibi Oil Field, carrying fresh leaves, called on the management of the company to address issues affecting the well being of members of the community.
They however demanded for electricity, provision of potable water, women empowerment, youth employment and compensation for the negative effects of the dredging, noting that it had brought untold hardship to the community.
Efforts to contact Mr David Odeli, the Chairman of Tisun Community Management Council proved abortive as he could not be reached for comments on the protest.
Also, the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG), had in the early hours of today took to Chevron gate in Warri to protest the non regularization of Itsekiri graduates working in the company.
The National President of Nigeria Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG), Comrade Ben Eburajalo, who led some Itsekiri graduates to occupy the gate of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), demanded that the company’s vocational program be reopened.
Eburajalo stated that the protest became necessary because the vocational program was the only path through which Itsekiri graduates were employed in Chevron.
An official of the company, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, disclosed that the company was not hiring new staff due to the hard times the oil and gas sector was facing, stating that vocational training program could only be organized when necessary.
