By Jimitota Onoyume

Itsekiri women under the aegis of the Voice of Warri Kingdom Women Initiative (VWWI) have called on Chevron Nigeria Limited to halt its planned disengagement of workers from Ugborodo and neighbouring host communities in Delta State.

Leaders of the community-based women’s organisation said the proposed layoffs could worsen economic hardship and deepen social instability in the affected communities.

Speaking during a peaceful advocacy action in Warri, VWWI President, Mrs. Vivian Mene, said the planned disengagement would have far-reaching consequences for families who depend solely on the affected workers for survival, especially amid rising living costs and limited employment opportunities.

According to the group, many of the workers are breadwinners whose incomes support extended families, children’s education, healthcare, and community welfare.

“We are mothers, wives, and caregivers. When workers lose their jobs, entire households suffer,” the women said in a joint statement. “We are calling on the company to show compassion, social responsibility, and commitment to sustainable community relations by halting this action.”

While acknowledging the company’s past contributions to local development, the women warned that disengaging workers could undermine years of trust and partnership between the company and its host communities. They urged the management to consider alternatives such as staff redeployment and retraining rather than outright layoffs.

The group also appealed to relevant government agencies and labour unions to intervene to ensure that workers’ rights and livelihoods are protected. They cautioned that job losses in oil-producing communities could heighten social tension, poverty, and youth restiveness, with women and children often bearing the heaviest burden.

“Our appeal is peaceful and constructive,” the women added, urging the company’s leadership to prioritise human welfare alongside profit, noting that protecting jobs is key to sustaining peace and stability in the Niger Delta.

Mene also called for the restoration of the company’s open camp policy to enhance local employment opportunities.