Youths under the direction of the Onne Youth Council staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday at the Chevron shore/logistics base in the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, Rivers State, over the planned closure of the base because they were concerned about the community’s potential job losses.
Chevron should reconsider its decision to relocate its logistics base from Onne, the youths said, warning that the move could have devastating financial effects on the community. The youths carried placards with a variety of messages.
The peaceful protest was led by Tobiah Silas Tete, president of the Onne Youth Council. He said that the reason they went to the shore base was to write a letter to Chevron asking them to reconsider their decision to move their logistics support base from Onne so as not to put the community and Rivers State in financial trouble.
He stated, “It has come to our notice as members of the host communities, the leaders and community representatives of the Onne-Ikpokiri clan that Chevron Nigeria Limited, an oil-producing company operating its shore/logistics base at the oil and gas free zone, has commenced moves to relocate the base from its current location in Onne, Rivers State.” He was referring to the company’s shore/logistics base.
Advertisement: Tete said that they were surprised to hear the news because of the important role that Chevron Logistics/Shore Base plays in their day-to-day lives and because the company has had a very warm and friendly relationship with the communities for more than 30 years.
He claims that the logistics/shore base employs a significant number of Onne men and women and provides thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
He stated, ” We, the host communities, have come together to ask Chevron to halt the planned closure of its Onne logistics and shore base. Given the dire economic and security implications of the planned move of the shore base out of Onne, this call became urgent. He added, “We appeal to you to kindly halt the ongoing relocation to avoid causing families and individuals in the communities that have peacefully supported your operations for many years unnecessary economic hardship.”
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Tete, on the other hand, stated that the significance of Chevron’s presence in Onne communities over the course of the previous three decades cannot be overstated. He also stated that moving the logistics operation of the company out of the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone at this time will have devastating effects on the youth and communities.
He asked Chevron to go into discourse with the impacted networks to examine the issue and perceive how they can keep on cooperating.
Tete pleaded with Governor Nyesom Wike, President Muhammadu Buhari, the chairman of the Eleme Local Government, security personnel, and any other well-intentioned Nigerian to intervene in the situation and convince Chevron to postpone the planned closure of its Logistics/Shore Base in Onne so as not to disturb the peace in the Niger Delta.
Additionally, he urged Chevron to uphold its long-standing commitment to actively support the economic growth of the communities where it operates.
The facility security officer welcomed the young protesters at the Chevron Logistics/Shore Base and promised to forward their letter and request to Chevron management.