Ijaw youths give ExxonMobil 7 days ultimatum to clean up Ibeno Oil Spill, pay compensation

Ijaw Youth Council IYC has given a second day ultimatum to ExxonMobil to begin a thorough clean up of Ibeno community in Akwa Ibom state and initiate a procedure for compensation in areas affected by the August 16 oil spill. President of the IYC Worldwide, Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja. “In response to the recent devastating event of oil spill in Ibeno community, Akwa Ibom state which is just one of such occurrences, we are hereby calling on ExxonMobil to as a matter of urgency carry out a thorough clean up exercise and initiate a procedure for compensation in the affected areas. It is a known fact that ExxonMobil in the past had neglected and treated with kid gloves their repeated oil spills and other accidents that leaves significant pollution and degradation to their host communities. They are known for either ignoring responsibility or playing politics with it”, he stated.
The council also asked the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA and other relevant agencies to act swiftly. “We are giving them seven days to take responsibility and swing into full and immediate action regarding the massive spill that was realised in Ibeno community on the 16th August 2024 whose effect on aqua life within the area is already very severe. In our pursuit of clean, habitable and favourable environment within all Ijaw territories, we want to state categorically that we will no longer treat with leniency any act of negligence and hesitancy of IOCs with regards to environmental related issues as this critical challenge has posed severe danger to the lives and economic activities of our people. We also wish to state that any form of negligence, delay or foul play will not be taken lightly as this is not going to be business as usual”.