EKET (AKWA IBOM) - Residents of Ibeno, host community to Mobil Producing Nigeria in Akwa Ibom, have said that the December deadline to end gas flaring in the country is not feasible.
The residents, who spoke to newsmen at the coastal fishing settlement, were unanimous that the various oil companies would not meet the deadline.
A youth leader at Ibeno, Mr. John Cyril, told NAN that the community had contended with the hazards of oil exploration for more than 30 years.
He said the community was delighted when the government announced the 2008 deadline, but expressed regret that the people’s hopes were being dashed as the deadline drew closer.
“The end of 2008 is around the corner, only two months away, and yet nothing has been done.
Will they do it by magic?’’ Cyril asked.
He said: “It is like saying that a woman will give birth without going through the process of pregnancy.
“If they are sincere and serious, by now work should have started, but we have not seen anything yet to suggest that there is any commitment to end gas flaring.’’
A community leader and Secretary of the Ibeno Clan Council, Chief Herkings Inyang, said the prevalence of lung diseases was very high in the area due to the toxic gas the people were inhaling.
“We bear the pains of oil exploration and hardly feel the gain. Gas flaring affects us in several ways, including covering our roofs with rust.
“Look at our roofs, we change our roofing sheets often because of the high content of toxic materials in the atmosphere. We cannot even drink or use rain water for our domestic chores,’’ Inyang said.
The clan secretary said that it was also regrettable that the aquatic life in the area had been destroyed due to the frequent oil spills.
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