The harmful effects of oil prospecting companies’ operations on communities in 13 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State have been denounced by members of the house of assembly.
In Mkpat-Enin, Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Etim Ekpo, Orue Offong/Oruko, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, Oruk Anam, Esit Eket, Eket, and Onna local government areas are the impacted localities.
The representative for Etinan constituency, Uduakobong Ekpo-Ufot, stated during plenary that the actions of the oil firms have caused environmental deterioration in the local villages.
The lawmaker stated during the introduction of a bill titled “Flagrant Disregard for Labour Laws, Destruction of Economic Crops, Properties and Underground Water by Geo-Seismic Survey Limited” that prospecting companies hired by Sterling Oil Limited to conduct pre-exploration seismic surveys in the areas covered by OML 13 are drilling boreholes up to 35 metres deep to bury dynamites and other data recording devices.
Ekpo-Ufot continued, “The companies are detonating the dynamites during the seismic survey.”
He informed the House that the corporations’ operations had caused buildings to develop cracks and contaminated subsurface water, causing boreholes in the impacted areas to now pump brown water.
Ekpo-Ufot reportedly revealed that the oil companies’ actions had resulted in the devastation of farmlands, fish ponds, and commercial crops. He also said that residents who had protested the development had been physically assaulted by security personnel employed by the corporations.
The operations of the oil corporations have raised concerns from the Deputy Leader of the House and member of the Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob.
He urged the House and the appropriate committees to act quickly to resolve the issue in the best interests of the nation.
“It is important not to ignore the condition of our people. Although we would all like to live in oil-producing areas, the right thing must be done.
He stated, “This House should rise up and order the appropriate committees to investigate this particular subject.
