Oil community demands N5bn from Chevron – TheNigerialawyer

Members of Sukuna Community, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo
State, have demanded that Chevron Nigeria Limited pay them N5bn
damages following the alleged explosion of the oil firm’s Ojumole
Oil Well near their community.

The community members, who claimed that the oil well exploded
and went up in flames on April 18, 2019, said they were severely
affected as all the efforts by the company to stop the fire did not
succeed until about two months after.

They claimed that apart from the shock they suffered from the
sudden loud explosion and the thick smoke that enveloped their
community, their farmlands and water were also allegedly polluted
in a bid by Chevron to put out the fire.

In a pre-action letter dated July 30, 2019 written to Chevron
through their lawyer, Ige Asemudara, the community members demanded
that the oil company should pay them N5bn for their loss, failing
which they would go to court.

They also demanded a comprehensive medical examination of every
member of the community and treatment of any ailment which any of
the community member might have suffered from the incident.

They also demanded that Chevron undertake an immediate clean-up
of their environment.

The lawyer said the community briefed him that “despite the
enormity of this unfortunate occurrence, your company was very
nonchalant, looked away and insensitively delayed any intervention
making it possible for the fire to spread to other oil wells within
the Ojumole field.”

He said, “Our clients suffered great discomfort, material
losses, health hazards, pains, imposed darkness, environmental
pollution and degradation for well over two months as the fire
raged until it was put out at about 1:00pm on the 30th day of June
2019. As we write, the bad effect of the injurious fire still
lingers.

“Whilst our clients were counting their losses directly
occasioned by the avoidable fire, they were stunned that in a bid
to put out the fire, more havoc was wrecked on our clients’ farms,
ponds, compound, field and other parts of the environment as the
debris and remains evacuated from the burnt field were deposited on
them.

“Without the permission of our clients or any lease or sale in
that regard, your company erected a huge platform on our clients’
land upon which your helicopters now land and you do other
activities thereon.

“Irked by these sad developments, our clients made several
efforts to communicate with your company in order to be able to
find an amicable and just way of resolving the issues, it was all
without success. Sadly, your company has failed, refused or perhaps
neglected to approach our clients for a solution to the problems
created by your actions and to restore our clients to the healthy
and happy condition of life they enjoyed before your illicit
acts.”

Asemudara said the community gave Chevron 14 days to meet their
demands, failing which they would sue.