Emma Arubi
20 August 2008
Warri — PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua has been called upon to prevail on oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to arrange a Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, to ascertain the extent of damage done to aquatic vegetation and human lives in Aja-Omaetan and Tisun Itsekiri communities in Warri council area of Delta State as a result of gas flare in the communities.
The Aja-Omaetan Community Management Trust made the call in a petition addressed to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated 14 August and signed by Messrs Anthony Jemide, Richard Mogbolube and Austin Ayonronfo, Chairman, general secretary and public relations officer respectively.
The people alleged in the letter that the gas flaring in Chevron's Dibi Field that started in 1997 at the flow station is producing an unbearable heat that is currently scorching the community out of existence as their only sustainable means of livelihood which include fish farming, rushes farm livestock farming, sources of drinking water and so on have either been burnt down beyond recognition or rendered useless due to the gas flare that has heated the whole area.
They further urged the presidency to compel the JIV to ascertain their complaint and advise the oil giant to desist from using Nigerian security forces to intimidate and harass them even as they are agitating to be rehabilitated and adequately compensated.
According to the petition, they have toed the path of peace for too long and that if nothing is done urgently to remedy their plight they shall have recourse to self-help with all its negative consequences for Delta State and the country.
The letter also addressed to the Delta State government and Ministry of Environment accused Chevron of being oppressive of Aja-Omaetan and Tisun communities as peaceful method towards addressing these issues including giving the communities their due rights and privileges are daily rebuffed by the company with impunity just as they call for the removal of one of the company staff bent on bringing the full weight of the security personnel to bear on them.
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