Odio communities in Eket, southern Akwa Ibom on Wednesday constituted an oil spill committee following the recent oil spill reported at the Qua Iboe...

Odio communities in Eket, southern Akwa Ibom on Wednesday constituted an oil spill committee following the recent oil spill reported at the Qua Iboe oil fields.

Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) operator of the Qua Iboe fields had in a statement confirmed that a spill incident on November 9 discharged crude oil into the Atlantic and subsequently polluted the coastline in Akwa Ibom.

Inaugurating the seven member committee at the Odio community centre, Chief Hanson Inyang, Chairman Odio Community Council noted that the oil spill impacted seven fishing communities within Odio.

He said that fishing ‘ports’ in Afaha Ukwa, Ikot Afaha, Idung-Otukwak, Ekiki, Nnim Emi, Ine-Odio and Odoro-Ikot were worst hit as the fishermen affected remained in anguish.

Inyang charged the oil spill committee to immediately monitor developments on the November 9 oil spill matters as they affect Odio communities and ensure that victims from the area receive relief materials to cusion the effect of the spill.

He further urged the committee to establish the extent of damages and losses incurred by individuals and communities and compute the claims and pass same to appropriate authorities.

The Committee has Dr. Samson Ebito as Chairman, while Mr Chike Sunday Udo is Secretary and other members drawn from Odio.

In a response, Chairman of the Committee, Ebito appealed to fishermen, youths and women affected by the oil spill to remain calm as the management of Mobil had pledged to take responsibility for the spill and assist victims.

He solicited the support of the leadership of the community and pledged to draw from his experience as an environmental protection expert to ensure remediation of the impact of the spill.

Arodiegwu Eziukwu