Nine communities under the Molutehin-Jinrinwo Development Trust in the Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State have protested against the alleged refusal of Chevron to carry out corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in the area.
They claimed that Chevron had an agreement to pay royalty to the communities, lamenting that it reneged on the agreement for over 30 years.
The angry protesters, who stormed the Chevron Headquarters at Awoye community in Ilaje LGA on Tuesday, said the company no longer enjoyed the backing of the community since it had failed to honour the agreement between them.
The communities, however, threatened the firm to leave their land. The communities involved include Awoye, Molutehin, Gbadira, Jinrinwo, Ugbo, Mishe and Erona.
The protesters, who were armed with placards, chanting various solidarity songs to show their grievances, stressed that the peaceful protest would continue until the company attended to their demands.
Some of the placards brandished by the protesting communities read thus: “We deserve better conditions”, “Chevron should incorporate our trust”, “Over 30 years of operation, no employment, enough is enough”,
Our land, our heritage” and “We need employment from Chevron”.
The protest disrupted operations in Opuekeba, one of Chevron’s oil fields.
The Chairman of the Molutehin-Jinrinwo Development Trust, Kelly Nomiye, said there was a need for an immediate development plan for the nine communities.
