Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON) has lamented the high level of environmental pollution caused by oil producing companies in the state.
President General of AKIPCON, Dr Uffot Phenson who made this known to newsmen in Uyo weekend expressed displeasure with oil companies over their nonchalant attitude to environmental issues in the state.
Phenson said the exploration activities of the companies have impacted negatively on the environment of the communities, causing a lot of destruction to peoples’ mean of livelihoods through the destruction of farmlands, aquatic life and human health.
“Oil spill, in the case of Exxonmobil is too incessant. If one month passes the other will not and the company will record an oil spill. The spill gets into the water and kills fishes, destroys aquatic life, farmlands and even human health.
“Fishermen always go to the high sea without catching anything and on top of it they will lose their net and their outboard engine will be destroyed by sucking crude oil in the water. We have so many outboard engines and damage nets stocked as our exhibits.
“If you go to Ibeno, the oil that drops on top of the water will circulate up to Okposom. From Okposom in Mbo LGA to Oron,Itu, Ibiono, Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obolo and beyond. That was why when Exxonmobil committed oil spill at Ibeno in 1998, people of Ajanku in Lagos State collected them compensation because of the spread.” He said.
Phenson warned “internal collaborators’ against promoting selfish and individualistic interest against the collective will of the people by supporting continuous exploitation of the people.
The President General, who hinted on the ongoing legal battle with some oil companies, said “we are just back from the Appeal Court sitting in Uyo in respect of about four cases still pending. Initially it was six, but two of the total number judgments were given in our favor.
“What took us to the Appeal Court is that AKIPCON in 2019 petitioned the National Human Right Commission of Nigeria on grounds of abuses and violation of human rights occasioned by the activities of oil companies operating in Akwa Ibom State.” He stated.
He said having been mandated by the Power of Attorney donated to the organization by the 31 paramount rulers in Akwa Ibom State in 2016, they petitioned the National Human Right Commission, who set up an investigative panel to investigate oil spillages, gas pollution and human right implications.
“The Commission sat in the Federal High Court in Uyo for three times. And at a point, Shell Petroleum, who participated in the public hearing, led other oil companies (Shell, Total, Monipolo, Unversal Energy and Seven Exploration) out of the panel. Mobil did not go to court but decided to stay aloof.
“The Commission has the statutory mandate as specified in Article 5 of the National Human Right Establishment Act of 2010, that it has the right to set up a special investigation panel, to investigate any abuse related to human rights. After all, Nigeria is a member of African Chatter whose responsibility is to regulate the activities that have to do with violation or abuse of human rights.” Phenson explained.
