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ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ACTION (ERA)
214 Uselu-Lagos Road, P.O. Box 10577,
Benin City, Nigeria
Tel/Fax + 234 52 600 165
E-mail: eraction@infoweb.abs.net

ERA FIELD REPORT NUMBER #88

SUBJECT: CHEVRON AND sHELL RAVAGE ESCRAVOS

DISPATCHLINE: ESCRAVOS, WARRI SOUTH WEST L.G.A. OF DELTA STATE.
FROM: ISRAEL ALOJA
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2001

HIGHLIGHTS

• The activities of Chevron and Shell in Escravos
• Retreating landmass
• High cost of living in communities with multi-national oil moguls

"Oil spill is a nightmare, it kill some fishes and expels others to the high sea, it takes about three, four months or more for the sea to regain its natural state, if it ever does".
Billy Kpoma (Itsekiri Fisherman-Escravos).

"About three months ago there was a major oil spill that affected this entire water way. Dead fishes, crabs, prawns and fishing nets were also massively destroyed".
Godwin Alatan-Escravos (Ugborodu Community).

ESCRAVOS

Escravos is located in Warri south L.G.A. of Delta State. Communities here include: Ugborodu, Ogidigben, Jala, Madagho and Ajiduibu. Escravos plays host to two major trans national oil companies Shell and Chevron. Shell has three onshore flow stations (Sagara, Otumara and Ogidigben flow stations), while Chevron has its flow stations offshore.

OCCUPATION:

Inhabitants of Escravos community are mainly the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Yoruba, and the Ilajes. Their occupation is fishing. Oil spill has direct and astonishing impact on their means of livelihood in a matter of seconds.

CHEVRON WARRI-ESCRAVOS SPILL

In July 2001 there was a very notorious crude oil spill along the Escravos-Warri crude oil pipeline. Crude oil pumped from Escravos to Warri for about four days did not get to Warri. This huge quantity of crude oil was spilled into the creeks down to the sea. The result was a massive destruction of aquatic life and fauna and the accompanying human misery.

"Apart from this regular oil spill crises, we also suffer resultant effect from gas flaring . We had two forests reserves: Otumara and Uremure. Now both have been totally lost to oil spill and dredging of canal to flow stations. Our sacred forest has also been violated; Abura trees used for making furniture have been destroyed over the years. Lack of health facility in this area is a big problem."
---Eghare (Chief) Wellington Ojogor (Ugborodu Community)
"Chairman Council of Elders and a Seasoned Surveyor".

ERA's RECOMMENDATIONS X CHEVRON and SHELL should immediately embark on restoration of the Escravos environment. The spills must be cleared adequately.

• Both oil TNCs should adhere to international standards.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Send a letter to CHEVRON and SHELL on the plight of the Escravos peoples caused by their operations.
• Write to your legislators/senators and also to local/international groups concerned with environmental protection, and request them to take keener interest in environmental issues and also to remind CHEVRON and SHELL of their obligations to the people.
• Join in the campaign against the destruction of environment of the Niger Delta.

Addresses

S.P.D.C NIGERIA LTD
FREEMAN HOUSE
21/22 MARINA
P.M.B. 2418
LAGOS
Tel: 234 1 2601600-19
Fax: 234 1 2636681
E-mail: info@spdc.shell.com; shellcorp-id@spdc.shell.com

CHEVRON NIGERIA LIMITED,
2, CHEVRON DRIVE,
LEKKI, LAGOS.
Tel: 234 1 2668002
       234 1 2669014
       234 1 2600600
Fax: 234 1 2600 395
E-mail: wapco@chevron.com; chevron@chevron.com

For more information contact:

ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ACTION/ FRIENDS OF THE EARTH (FoE, Nigeria)
#214, Uselu-Lagos Road, P. O. Box 10577, Benin City, Nigeria
Tel/Fax: + 234 52 600165 E-mail: eraction@infoweb.abs.net

Port Harcourt: # 13 Agudama Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt
Tel: + 234 84 236365
E-mail: oilwatch@infoweb.abs.net
Lagos: # 1 Balogun Street, Ikeja E-mail: disera@infoweb.abs.net
London: E-mail: njaja@compuserve.com

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