Abasiofiok Inyang
Oil palm-producing communities in Akwa Ibom State are currently living in fear over an alleged plan by the Federal Government to shut down the National Institute For Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, Abak substation.
The seven communities which include Ibesit Ekoi, Nto Arua, Ikot Ntuen, Itung, Uruk Obong, Ikot Okpong, Edem Idim Ibesit, are the host of the oldest oil research institute in the country.
Our correspondent gathered that fear of relocation of the Institute was heightened recently when staff working at the institute were asked to report at national headquarters in Benin, Edo State.
It was further gathered that the decision to relocate staff to the headquarters was a result of the mass looting of facilities and equipment at the Abak substation.
Aside from the looting of facilities, palm produce in the communities has consistently been harvested by thieves who usually invade the plantation.
In recent activities of criminals, one of the host communities, Itung was recently attacked and with the help of men of the Nigeria Police Force, some persons including a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state were arrested. On confession, the chieftain mentioned a certain lawyer in the area whom he said was the brains behind the harvesting of the palm produce.
The six suspects have been charged to court and are currently being remanded at Ikot Ekpene Correctional Facility.
It would be recalled that the Abak substation of the Institute nurtured palm seedlings that Malaysia came to get and today Malaysia is the world’s leading producer of oil palm.