Host communities accuse Chevron of denying them oil contracts

A group known as Chevron Host Communities Registered Procurement Contractors (CHOCOPROCO) on Tuesday protested over alleged marginalisation by the procurement department of Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The group with membership drawn from the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Elaje and Urhobo ethnic groups, all host communities of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Delta State called on the company to relocate its headquarter to its operational base in Warri, Delta State instead of Lekki Lagos in line with the Federal Government requirement.
CHOCOPROCO which led a protest to the Chevron Nigeria Limited base in Warri early on Tuesday morning and subsequently briefed journalists alleged that the company is colluding with some persons to marginalise the host communities giving them less than the local content policy of the Federal Government demands.
Led by their chairman, Emmanuel Adidi, the group said while they were open to dialogue the company chose rather to dub them criminals and warned that if every attempt to dialogue fails they will have no choice than to take more drastic steps.
They claimed that while they are contractors to Chevron as host communities and as stated in the Local Content Law the bulk of contract goes to a select few and others who are not members of the host communities.
The group alleged that persons who are staff of Chevron use business names to carry out contracts for the company effectively denying the host community members their rights.
They demanded to be carried along in the day to day procurement opportunities and awards and the immediate relocation of the Purchasing/procurement headquarters from Lekki back to Warri the operational base of Chevron Nigeria Limited as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.