ExxonMobilThe four local governments of Ibeno, Eket, Esit Eket and Onna, comprising the core oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom, on Thursday protested the non-payment of the Nov 19, 2012 oil spill compensation.The protest was said to have grounded activities at Qua Terminal, Mobil Operational Headquarters, at Ibeno.Our correspondent gathered that the protesting youths and women took over the entrance of the Mobil tank farm and administrative block, chanting war songs.The youths carried placards with the inscription “Mobil insults community with N2.6bn out of N26.5bn; prepare for outcome; and excess crude oil revenue is for host community not projects.”It was also learnt that business activities in the four core communities were paralysed owing to the protest.The youths carried a mock coffin of the Managing Director of ExxonMobil, Mr. Mack Ward, which they placed on a table in front of the company’s gate. An engine-boat was seen at the front of the administrative gate of the company.A community leader from Ibeno, Williams Mkpah, said Thursday’s protest was the climax of the warning protest that began on Monday.He said, “Nothing will make us leave this place except Mobil pays us our compensation money.”The Coordinating Secretary, Oil Spill Management Committee for the Core Communities Mr. Isaiah Abia, expressed gratitude to the security operatives for ensuring that the protest was peaceful.He said that communities had demanded immediate employment of 100 graduates by the company from the host communities of Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Onna.The Manager, Public/ Government Affairs of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) at the Qua Iboe Terminal in Ibeno, Mr. Akaninyene Esiere, said the company was aware of the protest.He stated that the company respected the rights of the people to make their grievances known peacefully.Esiere said that the protest arose due to inaccurate information on the part of the protesters.He explained that the misinformation had to do with the joint venture’s recent plans for multi-year and multi-billion naira social investments, across the state.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 06:56:23 +0000
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