A’Ibom youths protest alleged marginalisation by govt, ExxonMobil

Ini Friday 

Hundreds of youths in the ExxonMobil host community of Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, blocked the only access road to the multinational over demands to recall sacked contract staff; clean up the environment, improve on the epileptic power supply, among others. 

According to the protesting youths, they have been pushed far to the sea owing to the pollution of their environment by the multinational, which adversely affect aquatic lives. They added that in the sea, many of them have been victimised by high sea pirates. 

The youth protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We need light in our community; resuscitate our cottage hospital; ExxonMobil clean your environment; our fishermen are suffering because of sea-piracy. 

Others are: “Why should we suffer amid plenty? Re-employ our sacked contract staff; we don’t have electricity, but the government is using our oil to empower other local government areas and states in the country.” 

Youth chairman in Ibeno, Christopher Itia, said that the youths are not happy at the marginalisation of Ibeno by both the state government and the ExxonMobil, hence the protest. 

He said: “We are their host community, but they are not treating us as if we were parts of them: the multinational oil company had terminated over 500 contract staff in Ibeno alone. 

“ExxonMobil is here, we don’t have portable water, no electricity and we are the host community. Ibeno was supposed to be Heaven on Earth. 

Itia appealed to Gov Udom Emmanuel to complete Eket/Ibeno Road, which had been inaugurated without completion. 

He decried that sea piracy had stopped fishermen from going to sea, saying that a week ago, the hoodlums snatched four outboard engines from the fishermen within the Akwa Ibom State waterways. 

He lamented that the only cottage hospital in Ibeno has dilapidated, adding that the hospital has no nurse and equipment to treat patience. 

“We are pleading with Gov. Emmanuel and Federal Government to step into the matter and help Ibeno community,” he said. 

Reacting, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong, said their grievances have been noted assuring that the governor has not abandoned Eket Ibeno Road.