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Ugborodo 7-Day HCDT Ultimatum: Chevron Multi-billion Dollar EGTL, Shell, IOCs Operations Threatened

Ugborodo 7-Day HCDT Ultimatum: Chevron Multi-billion Dollar EGTL, Shell, IOCs Operations Threatened

•Warns Delta gov’s aide over alleged sabotage

Sylvester Idowuin Warri

The people of Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have given a seven-day ultimatum to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), now operating under the name Renaissance, as well as NPDC, SEPLAT, NGIC, NPSL, Mobil Offshore, and other international oil companies (IOCs), demanding the immediate incorporation and operationalisation of their Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) across onshore, offshore, and deep offshore assets, in their domain.

The community is also host to multi-billion Dollars Escravos Gas to Liquid Project (EGTL) operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited in Warri South West LGA of Delta State.

Speaking at a tripartite press conference held yesterday at Ode-Ugborodo, the community’s global headquarters, the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC), IkpereAlemeje Women Traders Association, and the Ugborodo Community Youth Development Body (UCYDB), jointly accused the oil multinationals and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) of deliberate neglect, disrespect, and exploitation of host communities in violation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Host Community Development Regulations.

The community leaders, who spoke through Mr. Emmanuel Onuwaje (UCMC Chairman), Madam Helen O. Nuco (Women Traders Chairlady), and Mr. Wilson Ejeh (UCYDB Chairman), alleged that despite decades of oil exploration and billions of dollars generated from their land, Ugborodo people were left without potable water, electricity, employment, or meaningful youth empowerment opportunities.

They further accused Chevron and Renaissance of systematically sidelining qualified indigenes in employment processes but instead importing “relatives and friends from other parts of the country” to occupy jobs and contracts meant for host communities.

On the delay in implementing the NBC/NUPRC joint report on communities within the 500-metre buffer zone of the Escravos coastlines, the groups accused the Commission of stalling the implementation, thereby frustrating Ugborodo’s recognition as a statutory host community and preventing the establishment of HCDTs.

The Committee’s Secretary, Samuel Besidone, who read the statement, said “We are tired of waiting. If nothing is done within seven days, we will be forced to stop all operations by International Oil Companies in our land.

“Our people are tired of being ignored. NUPRC must recognise us and set up our HCDT without delay,” they warned.

They stated that the patience of their people could not remain indefinite, warning that failure of IOCs, NUPRC, and relevant agencies to act within seven days will leave them with no option but to put a complete stop to all International Oil Companies’ operations within their communities adding “Enough is enough.”

They condemned vehemently recent attempts by some elements to destabilise the community’s peace and unity, including the formation of a “Governing Council of Ugborodo Community Trust” by unauthorised individuals.

The community leaders accused the groups of trying to incite violence and undermine the authority of recognised community organs.

Specifically, the leaders condemned the recent attempt by a “group of self-exiled individuals” to set up a parallel governing council for Ugborodo at a hotel in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area, far from the community.

They accused one of the group’s backers, allegedly a state government appointee, of plotting to destabiliseUgborodo and warned of potential conflict if any external force attempted to enforce the illegitimate council.

“We will resist any effort to invade our land in the name of government-backed deception. Our peace and unity are non-negotiable,” the community leaders stated.

The said further “You may be aware that some jokers recently converged somewhere at Ajamimogha, in faraway Warri South LGA, constituted nuisance and deluded themselves with the laughable and dead-on-arrival act of constituting a so-called ‘Governing Council of Ugborodo Community Trust.’

“Some of the mass media organisationswho covered the unholy convergence far away from any part of Ugborodo Community allowed their media to be used to tell lies that the said unholy convergence was at Ugborodo Community!

“What could be more deceptive, with a part of the media organisations as accomplice! These set of self-exilees have no doubt completely lost touch with the realities on the ground in Ugborodo Community.

“The known administrative organs set up and authorised by the appropriate authorities in Ugborodo Community are the UCMC under the leadership of Mr. Emmanuel Onuwaje, IkpereAlemeje Women Traders Association led by Madam Helen O. Nuco and the UCYDB under the leadership of Mr. Wilson Ejeh.

“The executives and members of these tripartite vital organs are seated here with us at Ode-Ugborodo, headquarters of Ugborodo Community. I leave you to be the judge.

“Though we are not in any way perturbed by the shenanigans of these self-exilee characters, we are nonetheless disturbed by the potential threat of their unpatriotic acts to the current security, peace and unity in Ugborodo Community, particularly when one of their sponsors is an appointee of the Delta State Governor, with the title/office ‘DG Security.’ Be that as it may, we are on the ground and at alert”, they added.

The community leaders vowed to resist any person or group of persons who were bent on destabilising their community adding ‘Governments at all levels should please take note as we are aware of his antics to invade the community with armed military personnel”.

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•Warns Delta gov’s aide over alleged sabotage Sylvester Idowuin Warri The people of Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have given a seven-day ultimatum to

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Railways, Cement and the Future of Ogun State’s Infrastructure

Railways, Cement and the Future of Ogun State’s Infrastructure

By Bayo Orebiyi

The story of Ogun State is, in many ways, the story of Nigeria’s industrial backbone. From Sagamu to Ibeshe, Papalanto to Ewekoro, and now Itori, Ogun has quietly become the cement capital of West Africa. Dangote Cement, with its 12 million metric tons per annum facility in Ibeshe and another 6 million metric-ton plant rising in Itori, dominates the landscape. Lafarge, with plants in Ewekoro and Sagamu, contributes an additional 4.5 million tons each year. Together, these giants account for over 20 million tons of cement—enough to build Nigeria’s cities and even feed export markets.

This industrial boom is commendable, but it comes with a steep cost, which is: The relentless pounding of Ogun State roads by thousands of heavy-duty trucks. Anyone who has driven the Ilaro–Owode road, the Sagamu axis, or the 70-kilometer Abeokuta–Ifo–Ota–Lagos expressway knows the story too well. Despite the commendable efforts of Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration in reconstructing key highways, many roads barely survive under the weight of cement trucks before they begin to crumble again. The newly reconstructed Ilaro–Owode road is already showing distress.

The impact is not just financial but human. Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians face daily risks from long convoys of overloaded trucks. Accidents involving Dangote and Lafarge trucks, though sometimes inevitable, have become far too frequent. Lives are lost, businesses disrupted, and infrastructure prematurely destroyed.

Yet, I must be clear, this is not a call to vilify Dangote or Lafarge. On the contrary, I applaud their vision and investments. Aliko Dangote has built Africa’s largest industrial empire, creating thousands of jobs, and Lafarge has indeed contributed decades of expertise to Nigeria’s growth. But with great industrial capacity comes an equally great responsibility to host communities.

Railways as Ogun’s Relief Valve

When I saw Alhaji Aliko Dangote on TVC News proudly announcing that the new Itori plant would focus solely on exports, I could not help but think of the cumulative impact on Ogun’s already overburdened roads. More plants mean more trucks, and more trucks mean more road carnage.

But there is another way forward – The Railway. On August 17, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), revealed that cement had successfully been transported from Papalanto in Ogun to Moniya in Ibadan. This achievement, part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, demonstrates that rail freight is not just possible but practical. It builds on the revival of the Lagos–Ibadan standard-gauge line, initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Imagine if this model were expanded, instead of 4,000 trucks pounding Ogun’s highways each day, cement could move efficiently by rail to distribution hubs across Nigeria. Not only would this save billions in road maintenance, it would also save lives, cut emissions, and ensure smoother logistics for manufacturers.

A Partnership Model for Industry and NRC

The solution is not to build more roads—roads cannot outpace the wear and tear of cement trucks. Rather, Dangote and Lafarge should work with the NRC to create dedicated rail spurs from their plants directly into the national network. From these spurs, regional depots could be established in Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and beyond, each fed by rail, not trucks.

This approach is not unprecedented. In South Africa, Transnet partners with mining companies to move bulk commodities by rail. In Europe, freight corridors serve entire industrial clusters. Nigeria can and must replicate these models if it wants Ogun to remain competitive without collapsing under its own weight.

Government as Enabler

The Ogun State government has shown admirable foresight in infrastructure development. From the Gateway International Airport, now completed and recently approved for commercial flights, to the revival of the Olokola Deep Sea Port plan in Ogun Waterside, the Abiodun administration is clearly focused on building an interconnected transport ecosystem. The APC-led governments in Abuja and Abeokuta have laid a foundation for multi-modal transportation, and this must now be leveraged.

The state government, working with the federal authorities, should create incentives for industries that adopt rail freight as their primary mode of transport. Just as manufacturers receive tax relief for new investments, companies that shift tonnage from road to rail could benefit from logistics tax credits or regulatory support.

Beyond Cement: A Broader Vision

While cement dominates Ogun’s industrial map, it is not the only player. The state also hosts agro-processing companies, consumer goods factories in Agbara, and emerging tech clusters. These industries also depend heavily on trucks for distribution. If rail corridors are extended, they too can benefit. Ogun could evolve into Nigeria’s logistics hub, where goods move seamlessly by rail, road, sea, and air. The Gateway Airport will handle passengers and light cargo; Olokola will manage maritime trade; rail will bear the bulk of heavy freight. This vision is within reach—but only if we make deliberate choices now.

Safety and Responsibility

Even as we build infrastructure, there are immediate steps industry leaders must take. Random alcohol and drug testing for truck drivers, stricter safety protocols, and investment in driver training should be standard. These are not penalties but safeguards—for companies, communities, and consumers alike.

Ultimately, the call here is not adversarial but collaborative. Ogun State cannot shoulder the burden of industrial growth alone. The cement industry cannot prioritize profit without considering sustainability. The federal government cannot build rail lines without ensuring industries use them.

The Road Ahead

The question is not whether Ogun can handle more cement plants, more exports, or more trucks. The question is whether we will allow growth to destroy the very infrastructure meant to sustain it.

If we choose the railway, we choose sustainability, safety, and shared prosperity. If we choose business-as-usual trucking, we condemn our roads, our people, and our future to unnecessary hardship.

The foundations have been laid—by the Buhari administration’s railway revival, by Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, and by Abiodun’s forward-looking infrastructure projects. What remains is for industry to match policy with responsibility.

If Ogun State gets this right, it will not only protect its roads but also set a national example: that industrial growth and sustainable infrastructure can, indeed, travel the same track.

*Bayo Orebiyi, a Public Administration Expert, writes from Yewa-South Local Government, Ogun State.

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By Bayo Orebiyi The story of Ogun State is, in many ways, the story of Nigeria’s industrial backbone. From Sagamu to Ibeshe, Papalanto to Ewekoro, and now Itori, Ogun has