…Community Lament over Marginalization
Bitto Bryan of the Big Brother Naija (BBN) ’18 fame in collaboration with an advocacy organisation, Policy Alert have stormed Ibeno local government area with the popular #WetinWeGain campaign.
The campaign which took place at a Town Hall Meeting in Upenekang, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State witnessed the presence of representatives, village heads, stakeholders and indigenes from the twenty-six (26) villages that make up the Local Government Area.
On the occasion, the advocacy organization shared to the community simplified data on transactions between the government and oil companies operating in the area while affording members of the community a space to relate their experiences with the companies and government agencies that receive oil revenues.
In their respective presentations, members of the community noted that American Oil Giant, ExxonMobil among other oil related companies including Frontier Oil, Seven Energy, Seven Uquo Gas limited and Accugas operating in the area have failed to honour the signed memorandum of understanding with the oil producing community.
Members of the community aired out their grievances against the oil companies over how their operations have negatively affected them for years.
According to the village head of Upenekang community, Chief Joseph Eshiett, vibration from extractive activities has caused severe quakes and cracks to their houses and as a result has threatened the safety of the people.
Chief Eshiett complained bitterly over the height of gas flaring in the area noting that it has caused respiratory problems and corrosion of roofs within the community. He added “Environmental pollution has triggered high rate of death within our community. Settlers are facing life threatening challenges. The oil exploration is turning out to be our doom”.
The women leader of Okposo1, Helen Atito, speaking on behalf of the women complained over oil spillage affecting the aquatic environment. She noted that because of the spillage, there are barely fishes to be caught for sales. This she complained has led to high cost of food and by extension caused poverty. She also complained of the inadequate medical facility which she said has led to maternal deaths during childbirth as expectant mothers are forced to visit local birth attendants during delivery.
Iniobong Usen, Lead Data and Extractive Director of Policy Alert educated the community on the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (NEITI) Audit reports. He offered insight to the fact that Exxon Mobil paid education taxes of $266.5m (81bn) between 2015 and 2016, yet one of Exxon Mobil host communities, Ibeno, has only one Secondary school which he described as forlorn serving twenty-six (26) villages.
In reaction, members of the Community expressed dismay over the amount of money generated from the area coupled with the tax paid for education yet the students of the only Secondary School in the area, Secondary Grammar School, Ibeno are left to sit on the floor receiving lessons.
In his remarks, Executive Director, Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan informed the people of the ExxonMobil payment of NDDC levies of $314.8m (96bn) between 2014 and 2016.
He noted that it was a sad narrative that the area still experiences abandoned NDDC shoreline protection projects and water schemes in Ibeno.
He emphasized the need to speak up so as to put an end to the ills that has befallen the community. Speaking to the Chiefs, Bolton-Akpan charged them to use the data being shared with them as a tool for making constructive demands from companies and government.
Bitto Bryan, who had a tour of the community noted his disappointment over the dilapidated state of the local government area after discovering the non-functional Cottage Hospital with just one medical personnel in sight, the overpopulated school and a number of NDDC abandoned projects.
He charged the people to demand for their social rights stressing that citizens are entitled to the basic social amenities considering the fact that the State is allocated with over 90bn derivational fund.
Meanwhile, it was gathered first hand during the meeting through comments and reactions that there is palpable distrust within the village council, as some among them felt a privileged few were benefitting from the oil companies and in the process sabotaging community interests.
