A non-governmental organization, Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON) has written to the Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, demanding more than 16.4 billion naira compensation.
The demand was contained in a letter obtained by our correspondent, and to addressed to NNPC Managing Director, signed by the organisation’s lawyer, Barrister N. A. Williams of Reliance Chambers in Uyo during the weekend.
The letter was also copied to the Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC); the Managing Director, Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd. (SEEPCO); the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Manager, Cooperate Lands Management, and the Village Head, Ikot Ada Udo Community, Ikot Abasi L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State.
The organisation alleged that Shell Petroleum Development Company “surreptitiously” sell out Ibibio 1 & II oil and gas wells to NNPC which has now become part of its OML13 even while waiting for Court of Appeal and National Human Rights Commission’s Special Investigation Panel (SIP) set up in 2016 to investigate oil spills and environmental pollution to conclude all AKIPCON matters before it, including the Ibibio 1 oil spill incident.
AKIPCON said the move made by SPDC was in order to dodge payment of compensation to alleviate the long years of oil spills and emissions suffered by their host community at Ikot Ada Udo and other affected communities.
According to the letter, the organisation for many years has been demanding for compensation from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other oil companies due to their negative effects of hydrocarbon pollution (oil spills, gas flaring and toxic waste dumping by Exxon Mobil and gas leakages/emissions) from corked and uncorked wells, especially those belonging to SPDC Ibibio I oil spill at Ikot Ada Udo and elsewhere in the state.
