The people of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area have decried the alleged illegal closure of Creeks, planned forceful displacement of Obianga/Ikonta villages and irreparable devastation of the environment by Sterling Petro Chemical and Fertilizer Limited-SPFL, an Indian petrochemical company operating within the territorial precinct of Eastern Obolo.
Speaking during a press conference by the Chiefs, leaders of thought and the good people of Eastern Obolo local government area, held at Villa Hilton hotel and apartment, Uyo, the Paramount ruler of Eastern Obolo, His Royal Majesty Uboon Harry J. Etetor, expressed deep concerns over the operational activities of SPFL, which has allegedly resulted in a humanitarian crisis for the residents. He explained that SPFL has illegally blocked crucial waterways, along with other creeks, which are federally navigable waterways vital for the island communitiesβ access to markets, schools, and hospitals
Also speaking, the village head of one of the host communities, Emereoke, Chief Joshua Mathew Ayagwung, who read the press text, noted that since the commencement of civil works by SPFL, the lives of their people have been under siege, as there are a number of critical socio economic and environmental challenges which SPFL has deliberately refused to address, despite repeated and persuasive engagements by the host communities.
Chief Ayagwung described the companyβs actions as a βcalculated act of oppression.β He highlighted that SPFLβs alleged plans to displace Ikonta and Obianga villages violate a previous accord brokered by former Governor Udom Emmanuel, which had clearly assured that these villages would remain undisturbed. They also alleged that the company has failed to present an Environmental Impact Assessment to the community that justifies the closure of their creeks and the planned displacement of the people.
According to them, SPFL has encroached their lands beyond the 1,736 hectares officially acquired, while also accusing the company of breaching local employment policies by favoring Indian workers over local laborers. Chief Ayagwung stressed that the tripartite agreement signed by the host communities, SPFL and Akwa Ibom state Government on October 17th 2022, was for the purpose of facilitating payment of prompt compensation for the lands acquired and did not have any clause therein for either the closure of creeks or relocation of villages or any of the host communities.
They therefore demanded amongst other things that SPFL should immediately reopen all blocked water ways and creeks and restore them to their original state to allow the people of Obianga and Ikonta have unhindered access in and out of their ancestral communities and maintain their traditional occupation of fishing.
They urged the company to vacate the over 1,200 hectares of land occupied by them in excess of the acquired 1,736 hectares of land and restrict its operations there, while demanding the payment of 30 million dollars for trespass and encroachment into their ancestral land which did not form part and parcel of the acquired land.
The people of Eastern OBolo therefore stressed that the demands must be taken seriously, adding that if SPFL fails within 14 days to adress the demands, they shall be left with no other option than to deploy all instrumentality of law to press home their demands, including peaceful protests. They also called on the state Governor Pastor Umo Eno, the federal government, the international community and all men of good conscience to come to their aid and hold SPFL accountable.