By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Members of Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON) in Ibeno has expressed regret over over the continued neglect, marginalization and exploitation of material and human potentials in the area by oil and gas companies operating in the area for decades now.
The group has also lent their support to AKIPCON’s emancipation struggle aimed at making oil companies operating in the area pay adequate and commensurate compensation to the people of the area for damages to lives and the environment.
AKIPCON Coordinator in Ibeno, Chief Samuel Ubeng made this known in Ibeno yesterday when a delegation of AKIPCON National Executive Council led by the President General, Dr. Ufot Phenson addressed a mammoth crowd of AKIPCON members at Mkpanak in Ibeno.
Ubeng observed that the 21 days ultimatum given to Exxon Mobil and other oil companies to pay compensation to the people on decades of environmental pollutionis a right step taken by AKIPCON to “press home our demands which have been suppressed and taken for granted by oil and gas companies and their internal collaborators.
The President General of AKIPCON, Dr. Ufot Phenson said they were at Ibeno to inaugurate AKIPCON Coordinating Committee after his paper presentation titled “The Negative Effects of Hydrocarbon Pollution in Akwa Ibom State in the Stakeholders Parley organized by National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) a Federal Government Oil Spill Regulatory Agency in Akwa Ibom State.
Phenson sympathized with Ibeno people on the extensive pollution and devastation suffered by them which affect their means of livelihood to a level one cannot imagine.
In a remark, AKIPCON Secretary General Mr Emmanuel Bassey observed that the people deserved the rights to adequate compensation for the extensive damage wrecked on water courses, fishing and farming occupations and other allied businesses.
“AKIPCON demands in this regard is justified by the Provision of S 43 & 44 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which gives all Nigerian citizens right to adequate compensation in the event of their interests being demolished, disrupted or destroyed by the activities of any public or corporate organization in Nigeria.” Bassey said.
The Secretary condemned in strong terms the barbaric activities of Exxon Mobil and other oil companies which have in no small measures caused the environmental pollution of Ibeno LGA environment in particular and Akwa Ibom State in general.
He called for adequate measures to be taken to ameliorate such unpleasant consequences and adopt a mechanism of assisting the victims with a view to restoring them to their former position before the occurrence of the spills.
