Community Demands Compensation from Chevron

An Ijaw community, Benikrukru, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta state has made demands of compensation from Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, as a result of damages to their environment and means of livelihood occasioned by oil spillage arising from the company’s Abiteye pipeline leakage of October, 2006. They have also called for a speedy clean-up and remediation exercise for the impacted areas. However, accusations have been leveled against CNL, saying that the company’s representatives are employing all sorts of delay tactics to frustrate the demands of the said community.
Such doings of oil companies in this major Nigerian oil producing area are the sort of doings that lead to youth restiveness in the region. Oil companies operating within the Niger-Delta have to adopt a little bit of sensitivity towards issues concerning communities in which they operate. As long as community natives are not happy with the modus operandi of oil companies operating on their land, they can never be cooperative. Oil companies must adhere to the principles of corporate social responsibility and always create positive impacts in communities where they are operational.