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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Residents of Unyenge community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have staged a peaceful protest as bridge collapsed cutting them off from other communities.
They also alleged neglect and marginalization by oil firms operating in the area, citing poor infrastructure, limited employment opportunities and environmental concerns.
Daily Sun gathered that the protest was prompted by many years of unresolved issues and the collapsed bridge which occurred last year when one of the oil companies trucks loaded with heavy equipment was passing through it,halting economic activities of the residents including lumbering their major fishing occupation.
Angered by the situation, the protesters comprising youths, women and community leaders converged at the bank of the river in the early hours and threatened to occupy until their concerns were addressed.
The protesters sang solidarity songs with placards of different inscriptions such as “No bridge, no work, ’employment of our youths and ‘No road, no work’ among others urging the Savannah Energy Nigeria Limited and others including Tulcan Energy Resources Limited, Shimao and Jeosco operating in the area to address the concerns without further delay
Addressing the protesters, Chief Godwin Matthew, representing Unyenge group of villages, alleged that Savannah Energy had not kept to it promise of reconstructing the bridge, adding that for 17 years the community stakeholders have engaged with the company on other issues bordering on lack of access road, water supply, hospital and lately the bridge but to no avail.
” For over 17 years since Savannah Energy Resouces started operations in our community, there’s no access road to the community. Another thing is the bridge,we pleaded with them,we have sent several correspondences but all our efforts have proved abortive.
“”Our youths have been working with them and other companies but since then none of our youths have been converted to permanent staff. There’s no hospital,no pipe borne water and today we sitting down here for a peaceful demonstration,we will remain here until this year ends, nobody will leave until our plights are being given due attention ” he said
Chief Matthew lamented that since the bridge collapsed, the company drivers have diverted to another route through Esit Eket and Ibeno to their operational base, without considering the damage done to the bridge.
“Since the collapse of the bridge, last year though the company promised to rebuild the bridge by December, they have yet to fulfil that promise. They now use a pontoon to cross to the other side but do not allow community members to use it”Chief Matthew further stated, adding that residents are now forced to travel by boat and pay about ₦1,500 to cross the river
The community youths President , Mr Joseph Timothy, accused the companies of neglect and marginalisation in about eight areas of concern
He listed the concerns to include lack of motorable road, employment opportunities, poor condition of service and non- committal to reconstruction of the collapsed bridge amongst others stressing that those concerns must be resolved.
The women leader Mrs Nkoyo Etim, also raised the concern of the companies failing to provide basic social amenities and adequate employment opportunities for women and the young ones, alleging that gas flaring and oil pollution had adversely affected residents’ health, water sources and agricultural activities.
“We are here to condemn what we consider the unfair treatment of Unyenge by the companies. We do not have a hospital, potable water, good roads or a functional market. Residents have raised concerns about respiratory illnesses, oil pollution has affected our sources of drinking water and reduced crop yields.
“Since the bridge collapsed, movement has become difficult and expensive. We used to cross freely to the other side of Unyenge, but residents now have to pay to travel there by boat.”she lamented
Etim also alleged that women have been excluded from employment and contract opportunities, adding that some women were previously engaged in vegetation-clearing work around the companies’ fly camp but were no longer given such opportunities.
Efforts to speak with the Community manager of Savannah Energy,Arit Bassey proved unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report as her calls rang out .but were never answered. She could not also respond to text and WhatsApp messages delivered to her phone either.
