The people of Ibeno, a local government area in Akwa Ibom State, are facing a heartbreaking situation. The oil companies that operate in their communities have caused immense damage to their livelihoods and ancestral lands.
For generations, the people of Ibeno relied on farming and fishing as their primary occupations. However, due to the constant oil spills in their communities, these traditional ways of life are now on the verge of extinction.
Farmers in Ibeno are struggling with extremely poor crop yields, while the scarcity of fish and other aquatic animals in the ocean is devastating the fishing industry.
Before the arrival of oil companies, Ibeno was a remote but prosperous land. Their soil was fertile, producing abundant crops, and their waters were teeming with fish. Life was good.
Chief Thomas Atanwa, the Chairman of Okoro-Utip village council, shared his perspective on the situation. He explained that when the oil companies first came to Ibeno, the community was hopeful for all-round development and prosperity.
Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be far from what they had hoped for. The oil spills have contaminated their lands, making the soil infertile, and the rivers toxic for fish. The once-thriving fishing and farming industries have been decimated.
Chief Atanwa reminisced about the past, where clean water was readily available, and everyone lived a healthy and happy life. But now, clean water is scarce, and even the borehole water is salty and unusable for washing clothes.
The people of Ibeno were promised basic amenities and development when the multinational company arrived. However, those promises remain unfulfilled, leaving the community disappointed and longing for the way things used to be.u
