The global oil giant, ExxonMobil, has denied recent Allegations of oil spills from its facility in Akwa Ibom.
The denied the allegations in a statement signed by its Regional Communications Manager, Africa, Mr Ogechukwu Udeagha, and made available to journalists in Uyo, the State capital.
According to the statement: “There has been no release of oil from any of our facilities, we are not the only oil operator in the area.
“A preliminary government agency inspection report on the alleged incident did not identify any of our facilities as a potential source.
“Protection of the environment and our communities remain key priorities in our operations,” Udeagha said.
Tribune reports that some youths of Eket and environs where the oil company is located had staged a protest, blocking the access road to Mobile facility and disrupting activities of staff among other proceedings in the company.
Speaking during a visit of our Correspondent to the area, the Community Leader of the protesting youths, Chief Paul Essiet, said the youths were angry and protested oil spills allegedly coming from ExxonMobil facility.
According to him, the irate youths protest disrupted activities and workers at the Mobil Housing Estate in Eket.
“We are angry because oil spills suspected to emanate from the facility of ExxonMobil triggered another protest by youths in the area.
“All the fishes in our waters are dead; our farmlands are soaked with oil spills; our women can no longer go to the farm since last week when the spillage occurred. He stated.
Essiet vowed that operations of ExxonMobil will not continue until the demands of the youths are met.
“We want ExxonMobil to negotiate with us on how and when to clean the spillage and pay adequate compensation to the host community.
He said that their waters with aquatic life and farmlands have been seriously polluted by frequent oil spills from ExxonMobil facilities.
Essiet urged oil giant to take ownership of its Cooperate Social Responsibility in the communities.
He explained that the spill occurred in Mkpanak in Ibeno Local Government Area on Friday, August 16 and the company has failed to take responsibility.
The youths which carried placards with inscriptions such as: “ExxonMobil safe our marine”, “We say no to oil spillage”, “ExxonMobil must go”, “ExxonMobil stop oil spillage, has refused to vacate the access road to the facility to allow normal activities to continue.
The community leader however called on ExxonMobil, to negotiate with host communities of the four core communities in the area for a possible way forward.
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