By Usiere Akpan
The Akwa Ibom State government and the authorities of Exxonmobil have set standards in community development through effective partnership. This is borne out of a cordial relationship between the government and the oil companies. In the cherished partnership, the government acts as an intermediary between the communities and the oil companies during moments of conflict. Interestingly, the oil companies on the other side have confidence in the leadership of the government to solve problems and challenges. The recent intervention of the state
government concerning the demand for oil spill compensation has brought dreams of community developments, in roads construction to a reality. That came to the people at the recent flagging off of the construction of a dual carriage way from Eket to Ibeno.
In the World map of oil exploration, drilling and production, these two communities, occupy a conspicuous position. This is where Akwa Ibom State is undisputedly, towering as one of the leading territories of crude oil production in Nigeria. Arising from the resources of crude oil, many foreign firms take up the business of oil exploration in the mangrove swamp forests and the ocean coastal communities. One of the outstanding oil firms in Akwa Ibom State is Mobil producing Nigeria, now ExxonMobil. There are also the Elf, Shell and others. The centre piece of this write up is not on the capacities of the oil companies.
So no qualms on the listing about which comes first or last nor on those not mentioned. The fact is that like other companies, the process of oil production cannot be concluded without the occurrence of waste products. It sometimes come accidentally. In the oil industry, waste is where crude oil spills accidentally or at the discharging from tanks to tanks or during the cleaning of the instruments and vessels. Each time there is a spill, individuals and communities weep. People protest, threaten fire and brimstone, rain curses and abuses on local and expatriate personnel of companies. Complains of communities, usually, centre on the destruction of the ecosystem, the fishing territories and the aquatic habitats.
A section of the people, hang their complaints, on the damage done to their farm lands, the pollution of the environment and the rusting of their roof tops. There has never been an oil spill where the communities see the oil companies as partners of development, irrespective of the fact that most of the companies offer employment, contracts, donations, grants and scholarships. This is to say, nobody ever likes to hear about oil spills. This assessment of the relationship between the communities and oil companies cut across the States. But where there are no frequent spills, some people arrange for spills. This is where sabotage to oil machineries happen. The faceless persons cause damage to the pipelines, present previously damaged boats, paddles and nets as evidence to collects compensations. As a former reporter in the oil and gas beat, I cannot recount the number of times I was contacted to make reports about oil spills which turn out to be an organised issue.
Once, laboratory experts come in to make analysis of the spills, the men behind would go underground with their petitions. An inexperienced reporter with hasty curiosity on oil and gas beat would usually end up embarrassing his or her employers with publications of fake or non existing oil spill stories. This is Nigeria.
However, the cases of fake oil spills do not counter facts that there are instances of genuine oil spills, just as agitated for compensations from the oil communities of Akwa Ibom State. The complaints of the communities presently are not different from previous ones. The modalities of agitations, petitions, protests, intimidations and warnings are not different. It appears from the positions of the communities that the world has remained without changes. That is where it is appropriate to appreciate the position of the State government to be involved in the managing of the funds rather than the constant formula of sharing the funds by the communities. Over the years, the oil companies have not defaulted in paying compensations to communities on genuine cases of oil spills. That should give confidence to the communities that by and by the compensations would be paid.
It is also known to the oil communities that despite the paying of compensations on spills, the roads, especially the Ibeno – Eket road has remained year in year out deplorable. Industrial goods, machineries, vehicles and personal wares have been damaged, lost and destroyed in the process of conveyance on the Eket Ibeno road. Any body who has passed through this road would not believe that it is the same way through which billions of funds are made, spent and sometimes carted away without anything spared for the communities. It is recalled that the Fedreral government in response to the appeals of the communities concerning the road, awarded contract for the construction of the road. But due to known Nigerian factors, very little could be achieved in making the road motorable. Therefore one saw unparallel joy from the communities when the State government decided to partner ExxonMobil to construct the road.
Unfortunately, opposition groups of the present administration have taken the wrong initiative of misinterpreting the partnership of the government and that of ExxonMobil in the construction of the road as another way of denying the communities due rights of recent oil spill compensations. The oil communities of Akwa Ibom state parade a crop of very sensible people who have served in various public offices and positions in previous governments. Considering the trend with which the communities approach the matter by not seeking due clarifications
tend to be at variance at what the communities represent as good and hospitable generations. It directly appears that very leading personalities have been misguided by new era boys to set booby traps and mines against the efforts of the government and Exxon Mobil.
In the cause of seeking the attention of ExxonMobil in the payment of compensations, the community leaders must not forget the past. ExxonMobil is their baby and cannot be thrown away with the bath water no matter the circumstances. The rise if the communities to the present in economic, social aspirations cannot be written to conclusion without the mentioning of outstanding contributions of ExxonMobil. In as much as one is not saying ExxonMobil is not without wrongs, the people must consider the best option of dialogue on the basis of give and take in the struggle for compensations. The present threats that cause the disruption of administrative duties of ExxonMobil has to be condemned. The youths and the opinion leaders must see ExxonMobil as a big glass house. The fear of throwing stones and pebbles to completely destroy it must act as a point of great wisdom. ExxonMobil personnel are mostly from the oil communities who believe in the transparent nature of the glass house in doing genuine business. They should sensitize the communities on the extent to which the company can handle corporate social responsibilities.
On the path of the traditional leaders, it is high time they rise up to wave the olive branch and call the youth's home. The communities must not forget that after sharing the oil spill compensations, brothers will continue to meet brothers. It is at such moments that one would be easily assessed and held accountable on acts and deeds. The communities must not forget that this present administration was voted by them to take decisions on their behalf at all times until the expiration of its tenure. And until then, we must continue to trust the leaders, protect the multinational oil companies, and work with them by creating the peaceful environment for development to be fast track to realities just as the flagging off of the Eket – Ibeno road construction.
•Akpan, a public commentator, wrote in from Uyo.
