Alex B.

Hill

From oppression to development: James Madison College

Michigan State University
Chevron’s policy rethink in Nigeria’s Bayelsa State
Advisor: Professor Edozie

“At around 10am the soldiers arrived in 15
gunboats. There were about 100 of them. They
started pouring petrol on houses. I could not
count the number of firebombs used; there
were too many. They fired with big guns, but
no teargas was used. Two- to three-year-olds
and the old ones stayed in their houses, and 12-
year-old Lucky was shot dead.”
- Chief L.D.I. Orumiegha-Bari, Chairman of the Council
of Chiefs, Odioma [February 19, 2005]
“Not too long ago, Chevron was accused by the Ijaws of supplying weapons to the “More than 200 soldiers in gunboats
Itsekiri and by the Itsekiri of giving money to the Ijaws to buy weapons. […] the attacked the remote town of Odioma in
American oil giant Chevron procured and flew in armed soldiers who came down the Nembe district of Bayelsa state on
very heavily on defenceless peaceful demonstrators who had occupied their Parabe Saturday, burning houses and firing at
oil facility. Two youths were shot dead and several others injured in that operation the inhabitants as they fled in confusion,
that was supervised and directed by Chevron. The Chevron public affairs manager residents said. Nimi Barigha-Amange, a
admitted to American journalists that they called in the soldiers and that the clan chief in the area, said more than 30
protesters were peaceful.” bodies had been recovered and that
Douglas, Oronto and Doifie Ola. Defending Nature, Protecting Human Dignity - Conflicts in the
many people were still missing.”
Niger Delta.
[IRINnews.org, February 24, 2005]

1895 - Oil seepages discovered by German expedition

ABSTRACT:
The Chevron Oil Company has established itself as a formidable
force within Nigeria's oil fields, particularly in the Bayelsa State.
1908 - Nigerian Bitumen Company of Germany begins to drill
1937 - Shell is first MNC operating in Nigeria
1947 - Serious oil exploration begins

Chevron and its partners have held a presence in Nigerian oil 1956 - Commercial quantites of oil discovered in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State
discovery and production since the Gulf Oil Company's first off-shore 1964 - Gulf Oil begins operations in Okan
mining in Okan conducted in 1963. In Bayelsa State there have been 1960s-70s - Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) reports successes
frequent kidnapping and attacks carried out by youth, citizens and 1985 - Chevron buys up Gulf Oil
militias unhappy with the environmental degradation and distribution 1992 - Chevron updates Gulf Oil platforms
of the oil wealth. Chevron, among other oil corporations, has been
1996 - CNL increases production across Nigeria, Bayelsa State officially
accused of exploiting local rivalries and ethnic differences as well as created
assisting the government in carrying out raids on communities hostile 1997 - CNL takes over Escravos operations
to Chevron's presence. More recently Chevron has changed its
1998-99 - Chevron accused of recruiting Nigerian military to kill protestors
position from one of suppressing local communities' concerns to
2000 - Chevron merges with Texaco
increasing development assistance and community investment. The
effectiveness of these new programs will help to determine the 2002-03 - Protests force Chevron to cease operations

stability of Niger Delta region in the future as other Multinational Oil
Corporations recognize the importance of engaging local
communities instead of forcibly suppressing their growing concerns.
2003 - Chevron allows JTF to use Escravos platform as base of attacks
2005 - Thirty killed in assault on Odioma, Bayelsa State
2007 - Over 25 Chevron workers are kidnapped in Bayelsa State
2006-07 - Chevron increases development programs including micro-
credit, university scholarships, and infrastructure