“LAW IS LAW AND MUST BE RESPECTED”. Komolafe tells, Chevron and Host communities at Escravos Terminal.

The Commission’s Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr Gbenga Komolafe, has waded into the dispute between Chevron Nigeria limited and three other host communities within the Escravos Terminal in Warri of Delta state regarding issues surrounding the Host community trust fund.

The issues as brought to fore at a meeting summoned by the NUPRC Boss, centered on the composition of the Host community development trust fund’s Board of Trustees membership and the Naming of the Host community development trust fund.

Prior to the meeting, the people of Ugbororo, Deghele and Ugboegungun, all of Delta state, were said to have staged a protest, accusing Chevron Nigeria limited of going against the petroleum industry act in desperation to satisfy the Palace of the Olu of Warri.

Having listened to submissions from both parties, the Commission’s Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Engr Gbenga Komolafe, issued a regulatory position directing both parties to maintain peace and equally convene a meeting that would be chaired by the Warri zonal office of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

According to Engr Komolafe, during the meeting, the Warri office of the Commission will look at the delegation of the Host community development trust fund, in line with the Petroleum industry act.

He further directed that, the Board of trustees’ membership be extended to nine from five and workout a formular for sharing of the BOT amongst the communities.

Other directives issued by the CCE includes, working together to come up with a suitable Name for the Host community trust fund and that Chevron to transmit to NUPRC the signed resolutions reached at the end of the meeting between Chevron and the aggrieved Host communities within two weeks.