Aggrieved people of Ikot Akan and Ete communities in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area and their neighbours in Ikot Oyoro Community of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have protested the destruction of their buildings and farmlands caused by frequent blasts and tremors from the activities of the Geo Seismic Survey Limited.
Geo Seismic Survey Limited is handling the oil survey deposit for Sterling Global Petrochemical in the area.
The protesters who converged on Saturday at the Party 110 Base Camp in Mkpat Enin LGA, sang solidarity songs and displayed placards of various inscriptions accusing the company of not carrying the community alone in their operations.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Geo Seismic Survey lacks respect for local content”, “we seek government’s intervention” “We prefer mutual dialogue to violence”, we solicit the assistance of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly” amongst others.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman, Local Content Monitoring and Compliance Committee, Engr. Odudu Udoh expressed disappointment with the management of the company for turning deaf ears to the plights of the communities.
He said despite a series of correspondences to the company, the management is yet to respond to anyone including honouring an invitation from the Ministry of Environment and Solid Mineral for a dialogue.
He called on the management to respect the peaceful co-existence of the communities and address their aggrievances to avoid disruption of their activities in the area.
He therefore gave the company a grace of one week to report to the Ministry of Environment and Solid Mineral in Uyo.
He said, “The dialogue with the aggrieved people of the affected communities is imperative because their lands and buildings have been destroyed and devastated as a result of the tremor and blasts from your activities.”
Responding, the Community Affairs Manager, Geo Seismic Survey Limited, Engr. Philip Aguda, apologised to Udoh and promised to comply with the directive by visiting them in Uyo.
