Youths in Akwa Ibom protest new oil spill block ExxonMobil’s gates

On Monday, youths from Ibeno Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State barricaded the gates of ExxonMobil in protest of a new oil spill that has contaminated local water bodies. The protest, which began on Friday, continued with drumming, dancing, and chanting. The spill, which occurred early Thursday, has affected over 27 coastal communities across Ibeno, Esit Eket, and Onna local government areas.

Chukwuemeka Woke, Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), who was visiting the affected areas, called for peace among the protesters. He emphasized that the visit was to collect samples and identify the responsible party, not to indict any company prematurely. Woke assured that any identified culprit would be held accountable and that the administration is committed to environmental protection.

Ubong Denis Essenem, the village head of Mkpanah, criticized ExxonMobil for repeatedly denying responsibility for spills and failing to clean up in a timely manner. He urged for immediate cleanup according to legal requirements. Mkpanah youth leader Isokobo Abraham highlighted how the constant spills have impacted their livelihoods, particularly their ability to fish.

ExxonMobil’s Public Affairs Manager, Ogechukwu Udeagha, was unreachable for comment, but previously denied any operational issues from their facilities.