Oil spill compensation: Youths plant plantain at ExxonMobil Airstrip

Members of the Eket Federal Constituency Vanguard have planted plantain suckers at ExxonMobil Airstrip along Eket Oron road, in protest against the non-payment of compensation by the oil company.

The group comprises community leaders, women and youths from Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Onna Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom respectively.

The communities are protesting the non-payment of compensation for oil spillage in their area.

A source that claimed anonymity said that the planting of suckers in front of ExxonMobil airstrip signified a traditional injunction against the company.

According to the source, anybody who removes the suckers will incur the wrath of the gods of the land, adding that only traditionalists imbued with the power of the gods could do so..

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company premises has been locked with the workers remaining at home since Monday when the protest started.

Reacting to the development, Mr Isaiah Abia, the leader of the group, said that the action signified a traditional warning protest against ExxonMobil.

He said that a seven-day ultimatum given to the company would expire today by midnight, adding that if ExxonMobil failed to comply, there would be a massive protest.

“It was a warning protest for ExxonMobil to comply within the seven-day ultimatum, which expires on Wednesday midnight,’’ Abia said.

Also reacting, Mr Akaninyene Esiere, the Manager, Public/Government Affairs of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) at the Qua Iboe Terminal in Ibeno, said that the company was aware of protest.

Esiere said that the company respected the rights of the people to make their grievances known peacefully.

He, however, said that the protest arose due to inaccurate information on the part of the protesters.

Esiere said 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.

“We are working with key stakeholders including our neighbouring communities and that Akwa Ibom Government to address the misinformation,” he said.

NAN reports that the youths are protesting the Nov. 9, 2012, oil spillage allegedly caused by ExxonMobil, which affected many parts of the state. (NAN)