EBENEZER ADUROKIYA, Warri
Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has revealed that it has spent approximately $1 billion annually over the past decade on developing Nigerian content, as the oil major reaffirmed its commitment to increasing gas utilisation in the domestic market.
The company’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Oduselu Olusoga, disclosed this on Monday during a one-day Oil and Gas Reporting Workshop in Asaba, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, in partnership with Chevron Nigeria Limited. The workshop was themed “Enhancing Professional Skills and Ethical Standards in Oil & Gas Journalism.”
Represented by the Manager of Communications at CNL, Anyaegbudike Victor, Mr Olusoga highlighted Chevron’s partnership with communities in the Niger Delta, particularly through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model, which he said afforded communities greater ownership of their development processes.
Under the GMoU framework, communities determine their development priorities and prepare five-year development plans, while Chevron provides funding and engages non-governmental organisations to support and monitor implementation. The principles underpinning the GMoU – including participation, transparency, accountability, sustainability and capacity building – were subsequently reflected in the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he noted.
On Nigerian content development, Mr Victor said the company’s activities had also contributed to the growth and capacity development of indigenous contractors in the Niger Delta.
Addressing the subject of gas and energy transition, he described gas as Nigeria’s primary transition fuel towards cleaner energy, emphasising Chevron’s commitment to increasing its utilisation in the domestic market. The company had undertaken gas gathering projects, including the Meji and Escravos projects, to reduce gas flaring and make more gas available for domestic consumption.
He further disclosed that the company was undertaking new exploration activities in the Niger Delta and was also partnering with other major oil companies on projects.
“Chevron’s commitment to Nigeria. The company remained active across onshore, shallow-water, offshore and deep-offshore operations. Right now, we are not going anywhere,” he said, stressing that Chevron’s continued presence in Nigeria was anchored on its partnerships with host communities and its long-term commitment to the country’s energy sector.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Delta State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, said the union was particularly delighted to partner with CNL on the capacity-building programme at a time when the oil and gas industry remained central to Nigeria’s economy, energy security and national development.
Mr Oyowe said journalists bore a responsibility beyond reporting events, stressing that they must provide the public with accurate, balanced, credible and well-contextualised information.
Delivering a paper titled “Professional Standards in Oil and Gas Reporting: Accuracy, Ethics, and Responsible Journalism,” the Head of the Department of Film and Multimedia Studies at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Dr Patrick Edema, said effective reporting of the petroleum industry required more than knowledge of journalism and petroleum terminology.
Dr Edema stressed the need for journalists to understand the complexity of the oil and gas value chain, including exploration and production, transportation and processing, refining, distribution and marketing.
