The people of Ibeno, an oil-producing community in Akwa Ibom State, are experiencing the dire consequences of oil exploration and exploitation by multinational oil companies. Oil spills and gas flaring have resulted in severe environmental, economic, and health hazards for the community.
The contamination of water sources by oil spills has left the residents of Ibeno without access to safe drinking water. The situation has become so dire that some people resort to drinking the polluted water from streams due to the high cost of alternative options. The spills have also devastated aquatic life and impacted fishing, making it difficult for fishermen to sustain their livelihoods.
Gas flaring, a common practice in the area, has caused respiratory diseases and even miscarriages among women. The pollution is evident in the discolored rainwater and the constant vibrations felt within homes due to the noise from the operations.
Despite numerous incidents of oil spills in the region, compensation and environmental cleanup efforts by Exxon Mobil and other oil companies have been inadequate, according to community representatives. The affected communities and civil society organizations are demanding that the companies remediate the environment and provide compensation before divesting from the area.
Gas flaring in Nigeria has contributed to the acidification of rivers and soils, leading to health issues and food crises in the Niger Delta region. Despite government initiatives to end gas flaring, the practice continues unabated.
This lengthy news article provides a detailed account of the devastation inflicted on Akwa Ibom Nigeria by foreign multinational oil drilling firms
For the full article here: DailyPost
SOURCE: Daily Post
IMAGE: Bloomberg
