Nigeria 
Poor Nigerian women halt oil giant

afrol News, 18 July - Oil multinational ChevronTexaco forgot the old wisdom of "getting the women on your side," it seems. Hundreds of poor, unarmed women are now occupying at least four of the company's facilities in Nigerian Delta State, protesting their own poverty in midst of the region's immense oil riches. And they are successful. 

Yesterday, ChevronTexaco seemed to have made the day after terminating the 10-day siege of its Escravos export terminal by a group of unarmed women protesters. The champagne corks in the oil company's headquarters had however barely hit the floor before the news of fresh protests arrived. Four new oil pumping facilities in the swamps of the western Niger Delta had been taken over by Nigerian women protesters.

The women of the Ijaw people demand jobs and amenities for their impoverished communities, lying next to the springs of ChevronTexaco's wealth. They seemed to have been spurred by the successful action of their neighbouring women from the Ugborodo community. Their siege of the Escravos facility ended in an agreement with ChevronTexaco that will guarantee at least 25 of them regular job offers over five years and build schools and provide water, electricity and a community centre.

The Ugborodo women seem to have found the key to pressure oil companies to leave some of their revenues in the local communities hosting them. A large number of earlier armed attacks on oil facilities and an even greater number of abduction of oil workers mostly had resulted in defeat. 

A fresh ChevronTexaco Nigeria statement also assures that "negotiations towards a peaceful resolution of the invasion will begin soon" with the Ijaw women. The women demand to meat with senior company executives to negotiate their demands for jobs and community improvements. 

The Escravos siege also seems to have been an eye-opener for the multinational oil company. Dick Filgate of ChevronTexaco Nigeria this week admitted the companies had to do more for its host communities: "We have to do a much better job of having communities involved in our business. We now have a different philosophy, and that is do more with communities," AP quoted him saying. 

The Ijaw women seemed to have been listening, although they deny their action is in any way related to that of the Ugborodo women. 

Meanwhile, the Ugborodo women are the only ones to celebrate. Even ChevronTexaco - which stated to be "delighted that this crisis has been resolved peacefully" - is still happy about the outcome of the first female invasion of its facilities. The Ugborodo women had not done any damage to the large investments at Escravos, and for that reason, ChevronTexaco has promised to throw a party Friday for the women. 

Sources: Based on Chevron, Nigerian press and afrol archives

© afrol News    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com