Akwa Ibom communities oppose move to redraw state’s map

Some communities in Akwa Ibom have vowed to resist moves by the state government to remove their status as oil bearing communities. This followed a recent resolution by the House of Assembly directing the executive to redesign the map of the state to include Onna and two other local government areas as oil-bearing areas. The […]

Some communities in Akwa Ibom have vowed to resist moves by the state government to remove their status as oil bearing communities.

This followed a recent resolution by the House of Assembly directing the executive to redesign the map of the state to include Onna and two other local government areas as oil-bearing areas.

The General Secretary of Ilima Obolo, an apex socio-cultural and political group of Eastern Obolo LGA,Dr Amah Williams, said the move was to enable the communities partake in the sharing of the three per cent derivation allocation provided in the new Petroleum Industry Act.

Williams, who spoke in Calabar, Cross River State, accused the governor of being behind the move to favour his community, Onna.

He said the affected communities have  vowed to resist the move on the 56 oil wells, which  would be ceded to Onna, Mkpat Enin and Ikot Abasi Local Government Areas, making them to also have access to Atlantic Ocean as littoral LGAs.

According to Williams, the new map of Akwa Ibom State has completely denied them the host status of the said oil wells situated on their lands and waters.

He called on the state governor never to ignore the resolution to sustain the peace in the state.

A lawmaker, David Lawrence, who represents Eket, had sponsored a motion, which directed the state Surveyor General to urgently redraw a ‘generally accepted’ map of the state.

The assembly also ordered that all other enactments concerning the original map should be abrogated.

They urged the state governor to cause the new map so drawn by the Surveyor General to immediately be gazette as the official map of the state.

“The purported readjustment of the boundaries of Eastern Obolo and Ibeno LGAs, which hitherto were the only two that had access to the Atlantic Ocean is a pointer and a further confirmation of the grand plot towards the extinction of the minority people in the state.

“The purported re-mapping is illegal and unconstitutional as well as a calculated land grabbing strategy,’’ William said.

He cautioned the state government against further marginalising and oppressing them adding, “We shall take necessary actions within the ambit of the law to preserve our territorial boundaries from balkanisation.’’

In his reaction, a member of the assembly, Aniefiok Akpan and the Chairman, House Committee on Information, advised the communities not to be “unnecessarily apprehensive’’.

He said that the House would ensure equity in the exercise adding that the proposed remapping was borne out of concerns and grievances from the people of the state.

“Let me advised the Eastern Obolo people to liaise with the member representing them at the Assembly and the Surveyor General to ensure that the proper thing is done.’’