COVID-19: ExxonMobil Workers Risk Prosecution for Illegal Entry to Rivers

As the dust raised by the recent illegal quarantine of Chevron Staff in a Delta hotel is yet to settle, another US oil major, ExxonMobil is in trouble for alleged violation of an executive order by Rivers State Government.

Irked by the development, Governor Wike has vowed to quarantine and prosecute them in accordance with the law.

In a live broadcast at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said the ExxonMobil staff, whose identities were not immediately known, were arrested while entering Rivers State from Eket, Akwa Ibom State, through the East-west Road.

Wike said: “Yesterday, it was ExxonMobil that brought 22 people into Rivers State. Although, service commanders, including the Commissioner of Police, are pleading that we should allow them to return to Uyo. I know their predicament because they take orders from Abuja.

“But I will fight this one. I have told the Attorney-General to prepare; we are going to court against them. We will fight this fight legally. ExxonMobil cannot bring in 22 people illegally into Rivers State.”

He added: ExxonMobil does not operate in Rivers State. They only make use of the Onne Port. We are not sure of the health status of the people they brought into the state because they can enter Eleme and Onne communities.

“We cannot leave corporate bodies who are not obeying the laws while akara and groundnut sellers are being charged to court in Lagos. This ExxonMobil matter will expose those in Abuja. I am ready for them. Rivers State is not a pariah state and we will not be.”

ExxonMobil and Chevron have their headquarters in the country with very high COVID-19  cases.

As of the time of filing this report, the health status of the staff was yet to be ascertained.

Yesterday, Chevron Nigeria Ltd confirmed it placed some of its staff on quarantine in Cyprian Hotels and Suites without the authorisation of the Delta State Government and the NCDC.

This was contrary to an earlier denial by management of the hotel that no staff of the oil firm was quarantined in the hotel, owned by a retired police officer.