A lawmaker in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Moses Essien, has raised an alarm over the economic hazards posed by corked Oil wells to some Communities in Ibiono Ibom Local Council of the state.
Essien said that the oil wells were discovered many years ago by the Shell Petroleum Development Company which corked and kept them because there were not found to be in commercial quantities then.
He told Correspondents yesterday in Uyo that the oil wells have overflown and and have constituted economic hazards to the communities.
Essien who is also the chairman House Committee on Health and represents Ibiono Ibom State Constituency said he has laised with the appropriate authorities, adding that what is left is for the
committee to visit the communities and make appropriate recommendations to the department involved in the state to see what could be done to help the communities.
“We have some Oil corked wells in Ibiono Ibom Local Government, these wells were discovered by Shell many years ago, but found not to be in commercial quantities for exploration and the oil wells were corked and left.
“Some of these oil wells have overflown and are now causing economic hazards to our people in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. At the level where it is now the Ministry in charge of these resources are drawn to Ibiono Ibom to carry out an on-the-spot- assessment of the situation. iam sure that the oil is now in large commercial quantities for exploration.” He said.
Speaking further he said that the State House of Assembly would soon commence a tour of the state hospitals and other health institutions to investigate widespread complaints of negligence of duty among health workers as well as failed amenities in the state hospitals.
“The environment of most of the General Hospitals, from my experience at Emmanuel General Hospitals, are very unkempt, grasses overgrown everywhere, prompting mosquito attacks. Patients come with mild ailments and contact more critical health challenges because of the very dirty environment.
“You also have the misfortune of no power supply. Most times patients light candles and phone touches to light their beds and take care of selves in the night. There have cases of poor power supply disrupting medical procedures and threatening patients lives in the public hospitals.
“We are not even giving prior notice to them that we are coming so that we get first hand information on what is happening against the public complaints. Like the issue you raised, a medical doctor is supposed to be on duty post to care for patients. He is not supposed to be in his house, keeping patients waiting.
“Sometimes they wait till emergencies before they will come. That is not encouraging. And so we will embark on oversights to most of these hospitals on these issues so that we can draw attention of the Governor (Umo Eno) to most of these challenges people are complaining about.
“We are already dealing with some that came to the House by way of motion. Like the Okorette General Hospital where we dealt with issues raised by member representing Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo Constituency.
“We summoned the Commissioner for Health, Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry. We summoned the Hospital Management Board to appear before the House Committee on Health. We gave them three days matching orders to go to the hospital and report back.
“Truly, those issues raised in the motion were real. They had a fact finding and now those challenges have been fixed, just because of the visit of the Commissioner. We are alive to the duty of drawing attention of the Executive to those areas for reforms and resolutions.” He said.
