The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has reemphasised that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the accompanying Regulations made pursuant to the PIA, does not recognise traditional rulers, palaces or ethnicity in the implementation and operationalization of the PIA.
The NUPRC boss, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe stated this on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at a mediatory meeting convened by the Commission at its Abuja headquarters, to settle the lingering dispute between some host communities of the facilities of Chevron Nigeria Limited and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, over the non implementation and operationalization of the PIA in tandem with the extant laws.
Engr Komolafe, while announcing the Commission’s resolutions after hearing from the disagreeing parties, directed all to maintain the status quo by ensuring peace in the facilities of the Setlors, even as the resolutions issued by the Commission are being implemented to finally resolve the dispute.
The disagreement between the three communities of Ugbororo, Ugbegugun and Deghele, all in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State on one hand, and the Setlors, particularly Chevron, a foremost International Oil Company (IOC) operating in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, centred on the naming of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) established by the Setlors (Chevron and Shell) for the host communities and the composition of its Board of Trustees.
Prior to the meeting which the Commission’s Chief Executive quickly convened to arrest the ongoing situation in the area, the people of Ugbororo, Deghele and Ugboegungun, staged a protest which is still ongoing, accusing Chevron Nigeria Limited of going against the Petroleum Industry Act and the accompanying NUPRC Regulations made pursuant to the PIA.
Having listened to submissions from the parties, as represented by Mr. Esimaje Brikinn and Sam Daibo (for Chevron), and the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, Hon Michael Ejele Diden, Prince Perry Atete, Mr. Isaac Botosan, Madam Oritsema Nuko, Prince Yemi Emiko, Comrade Alex Eyengho Mr. Wilson Ejeh, Mr. Ofe Nene, among others (for the host communities), while Mr. Oris Onuwaje and Chief Samuel K. Mebeyinje, introduced themselves as attending on behalf of the Palace of the Olu of Warri), Engr Komolafe, issued the NUPRC’s position, directing parties to maintain peace while issuing further directives to Chevron on the resolution of the commission on the matter which must be complied with within two weeks.
Some of the directives issued by the NUPRC boss include the convening of meetings by Chevron with the host communities to be overseen by the Commission’s Warri Regional office to agree on the proper delineation and naming of the HCDT, the recomposition of the Board of Trustees in compliance with an earlier directive of the Commission to the settlors; all in compliance with the PIA and Regulations.
Engr. Komolafe declared the ruling of the commission as follows: “Chevron and the protesting host communities to go back to, and maintain the status of peace.
“Chevron to convene a meeting between it and the host communities that will be midwifed by the NUPRC Warri Regional office to look at how Chevron did the delineation of the HCDT to be sure that it was done in line with the PIA and Regulations.
“NUPRC will look at the BoT where parties will work together to amicably throw up the nine (9) members of the proposed BoT of the HCDT.
“The earlier position of the NUPRC in letters to Chevron/Shell and the host communities, with regards to the naming of the HCDT, is hereby reiterated.
“Chevron to come back to NUPRC with report of the implementation of these rulings duly signed by both parties within the next two weeks. The attendance list, venue, and time of the meeting are of paramount importance to the NUPRC.”
