1 week ago
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An advocacy group committed to environmental justice in Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network has kicked against the planned on-shore asset sale by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, saying that it is an attempt by the company to dodge its responsibilities.
AKIPKON made this known in a letter addressed to the Director General of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, after careful deliberation on the matter during it Annual General Meeting in Uyo, the state capital.
In the letter, endorsed by its President-General, Dr Ufot Phenson, and Secretary, Emmanuel Bassey, a copy of which was made available to South-South PUNCH correspondent in Uyo, on Tuesday, the group, while urging the commission to reject the move, said its reason for opposing the sale is hinged on several reasons, including attempt by SPDC to evade remediation and payment of compensation to victims of oil spills and others.
The group averred that the sale if approved, would amount to a clear case of injustice against humanity because it would amount to evading its responsibility to remediate the highly polluted environment and pay compensation to victims of years of oil spills.
The letter reads in part, “The organization salutes the courage of your commission to object to the sale of the on-shore asset of SPDC.
“It was observed that one of the most contentious aspects of the sale of asset by SPDC is the environmental devastation of Akwa Ibom State by the company.
“The sale, if approved by your commission, will amount to a clear case of injustice to humanity. This is because the company will evade its responsibilities to remediate the battered Akwa Ibom environment through its harmful and unminded economic activities, that is, oil spills, oil and gas leakages/emissions from corked and uncorked oil wells at various locations in the state, thereby polluting farmlands, soil, water bodies including rivers, creeks, streams, swamps, ponds.
“These have destroyed the means of livelihood of the people; the activities of SPDC have also affected the health and overall well-being of the people with its human rights consequences.
“The SPDC disinvestment plan is also a calculated attempt to evade the remediation of the highly polluted environment of the Akwa Ibom State in particular and the Niger Delta region in general.
“AKIPCON’s rejection of the sale of the asset by SPDC is also based on the fact that the company is trying to dodge its responsibility of payment of compensation to the peasant farmers, fishermen and allied business operators who have been deprived of their means of livelihood through constant oil spills, oil and gas leakages.
“We urge the commission to intervene by stopping SPDC’s planned disinvestment by ensuring the settlement of environmental liabilities and payment of compensation to the victims of its negative economic activities in Akwa Ibom State to alleviate the suffering of the people for decades now.”
