- Says law remains sacrosanct
From Uche Usim, Abuja
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has asked Chevron Nigeria Limited and some communities within the company’s Warri exploration and production area, in Delta State to sheath their swords over issues around the composition and naming of the Host Communities Trust Fund.
The Commission, in a statement, insisted that while the matter was being resolved, the law will not be jettisoned as all operations of the petroleum industry are guided and guarded by law.
The Commission explained that the dispute between Chevron and the Ugbororo, Ugbegugun and Denbele communities in Warri South Local Government of the state was over the naming of the host community trust fund established for the communities and the composition of its Board of Trustees.
“People from the three communities were reported to have staged a protest in the Escravos Terminal area, accusing Chevron of going against the Petroleum Industry Act (2021).
“At a meeting between the feuding parties on Tuesday at the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, the Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Gbenga Komolafe, urged them to maintain the status quo and ensure peace reigned in the operational area as the regulator was determined to ensure that the fit and proper thing is done immediately
“Having listened to the submissions of the parties, Komolafe, issued a regulatory position and directed Chevron on the resolution of the matter which must be implemented within two weeks. He emphasised that the law which was very explicit on the matter in contention must be obeyed by all the parties concerned”, the statement noted.
Among other directives, the Chief Executive of NUPRC boss called for the immediate convening of consultation meetings with the communities on the proper delineation and naming of the Fund in compliance with the PIA and the re-composition of the Board of Trustees in line with an earlier directive of the Commission.
“The process which must be supervised by the Commission’s Warri Regional Office is expected to be finalised and the report sent to the Commission within two weeks,” the statement added.