By Diana Oluwole
THE Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), Delta State chapter, has called on Chevron Nigeria Limited and other international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Itsekiri communities to prioritize genuine corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives for their host communities.
This appeal was made through a press release made available to the public yesterday by the chapter’s chairman, Monoyo Ẹdon,
He condemned the recent vandalism of Chevron pipelines in the Dibi-Olero-Abiteye Fields, Delta State. Edon also expressed concerns over what he described as a longstanding neglect of the welfare of the host communities within their operational areas.
“Public relations cannot take the place of corporate social responsibility,” Edon said, criticizing Chevron’s approach to community engagement as superficial.
He alleged that the company had failed to honor its commitments to the host communities, opting instead to work with a select group of community leaders, whom he accused of exploiting the people.
The NDYM chairman urged Chevron and other IOCs to fulfill their promises and establish direct communication with the larger community to ensure meaningful development and inclusivity.
