The oil company and the residents of the Warri exploration and production area in Delta State have been at odds over the Host Communities Trust Fund’s makeup and designation, and the federal government has ordered Chevron Nigeria Limited to settle the dispute.
It stressed its resolve to do the right thing at this very moment and advised the disputing parties to maintain calm until the matter was settled.
The host community trust fund and its Board of Trustees’ designation are at the heart of the disagreement between Chevron and the towns of Ugbororo, Ugbegugun, and Dembele in the state’s Warri South Local Government Area.
The Escravos Terminal area reportedly saw a gathering of protesters from the three communities who were claiming that Chevron had violated the Petroleum Industry Act (2021).
Following a meeting with the contending parties at the NUPRC’s Abuja offices, the oil corporation was reportedly advised by the agency’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, to resolve the disagreement within two weeks, as stated in a statement released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission on Wednesday.
Komolafe took a stance on regulation and instructed Chevron to resolve the issue within two weeks after hearing the parties’ arguments, according to the statement. He stressed that everyone involved must adhere to the law, which was quite clear on the issue at hand.
