allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Niger Delta - Chevron Evacuates 350 Staff (Page 1 of 1)

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Niger Delta - Chevron Evacuates 350 Staff (Page 1 of 1)

Over 700 oil workers on Wednesday fled platforms in the Niger Delta in fear of their lives, as the Joint Task Force (JTF) denied accusation by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that troops were sent in to prosecute a Northern agenda



Chevron alone evacuated about 350 staff and contractors in an early morning airlift from Escravos to Ozubi in Warri and other parts of the region, following repeated attacks on its facilities.

President Umaru Yar'Adua reacted in Abuja by summoning for today a meeting to outline a further roadmap for resolving the Niger Delta debacle and to finalise the terms of the amnesty for militants willing to surrender arms and embrace peace.

He had on Tuesday welcomed the pledge of militant leader, Ateke Tom, to accept the offer, and promised to personally announce the terms this week or next.

Those expected at the meeting include Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President, David Mark; House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; Ministers Shettima Mustapha (Defence); Godwin Abbe (Internal Affairs); Ufot Ekaette (Niger Delta); and Chief of Defence Staff, Paul Dike.

Others are Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa AIbom), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).

The evacuation by Chevron was triggered by plans by the MEND to bomb its other facilities, insurgent targets since hostilities broke out in May between the JTF and militants over hostage taking and the killing of soldiers.

The group on Tuesday bombed, for the second time this year, the Abiteye oil pipeline belonging to the company.

"We held a meeting yesterday (Tuesday) and the new move was part of the resolution," a source confirmed.

"Chevron decided to evacuate the personnel and contractors working with it until normalcy is restored.

"We the workers lined up this morning (Wednesday) at Chevron's yard in Escravos to take part in the formalities for the evacuation. We were later airlifted from the Escravos airfield to Ozubi airport in Warri, where we travelled to our various destinations."

The workers were told before departure that they would be recalled when the situation improves.

Chevron officials got hint that the MEND plans fresh attacks on its facilities this week and had to act fast to safeguard the lives of its workers.

The MEND has issued a quit order to all oil workers or face 'Hurricane Piper Alpha,' which led to the bombing of Chevron flow station at Utunana last week, and another one on Monday this week at Abiteye in Delta State.

JTF Spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, has denied claims by the MEND that it bombed Chevron facilities, saying it is propaganda.

On Tuesday, however, militants said they blew up the Trans Forcados Trunkline belonging to Shell and Abiteye oil pipeline belonging to Chevron, shutting- in over 250,000 barrels per daily (bpd).

Chevron Nigeria Limited, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/CNL Joint Venture, confirmed the incident, but said no life was lost.

Chevron General Manager (Policy, Government and Public Affairs), Femi Odumabo, said: "Our workforce is safe, relevant stakeholders have been informed, and we are continuing to assess the situation and work to restore the integrity of the facility which had been shut down before the incident."

Chevron had confirmed the earlier attack on the Abiteye pipeline, and shut in 100,000 bpd.

A statement issued by Shell Spokesperson, Precious Okolobor, also "declared force majuere on Forcados offtake programme for the remainder of June and for July effective 1800 hours June 16."

On Wednesday, the JTF reiterated that it was not set up to prosecute a Northern agenda in the Niger Delta, and accused the MEND of engaging in politically motivated smear campaign in a propaganda that would not lead it anywhere.

Abubakar questioned the correlation between the Niger Delta struggle for a better deal from Abuja and illegal bunkering, oil pipeline vandalisation, and other criminal acts which are stock in trade of militants.

He described those behind the MEND as self-seeking, and troops are commitment to bring peace to the region to usher in investment for development.

Said he: "The JTF, Operation Restore Hope, being a professional body saddled with the security of lives and property in the Niger Delta, has a mandate and will not allow anything or anybody to distract it on its journey to achieving this feat.

"We, however, wish to reiterate what we have been saying all along, that the troops serving in the JTF are drawn from different religious and ethnic groups across the country, Abuja inclusive. As for those who are ignorant, recruitment or enlistment - as the case may be - is based on character, irrespective of religion or tribe.

"Therefore, it would be laughable for anybody or group to say that soldiers serving in JTF are Northerners, this goes a long way to prove that such individuals or group are living in a box, inept and ignorant.

"It is quite unfortunate that in this millennium any individual or group would talk with no sense of direction or decorum, which is the 'MEND' for you. The MEND needs to grow up and act its age if really it is fighting for the emancipation of the Niger Delta, other than enriching their pockets, unleashing terror and sabotaging the economy."

Abubakar stressed that the MEND members "and their co-illiterates" should know that the JTF is "one big family" devoid of ethnic, religious and personal sentiment, fused together as one.

"We are our brother's keeper and not vulnerable to anybody or group; ours is to discharge our duties judiciously, honestly, and professionally for our great country and Niger Delta in particular.

"If the MEND has run out of ideas, it dare not dabble into affairs it knows nothing about.

"Members of the Armed Forces serving in the (JTF) are capable of employing all maneuvers to suppress any unholy group or individual for the good of our people and great country Nigeria. We are professionals!, it is not magic, its simple logic."

On another flank on Wednesday, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, met with the elders of Gbaramatu on how to restore peace to the community and move the state forward.

He said the parley, held in Warri, was in line with the state government's peace initiative to restore peace after the military bombardment of riverside settlements.
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Uduaghan explained that "what happened in Gbaramatu on May 13 was least expected, and l called this meeting for us to work out ways of restoring peace to the area.

"A lot of damage has been done and the economy of the area is at a standstill. Let us put our heads together and discuss how to move forward.

Spokesman of the elders, Oboko Bello, commended Uduaghan for the peace initiative and promised that they would ensure that normalcy returns.

He condemned the bombardment, which he described as genocide, a state of emergency, and an act of war against democracy - which "led to the killing of innocent people, animals, destruction, and a standstill in road construction, health care delivery, and education."