Akwa Ibom Community Tackles Oil Firm Over NDDC Project

The oil – rich community of Ete, in Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State has drawn the battle line with Sterling Global Ltd, a petrochemical and fertiliser processing company prospecting for oil and gas resources in the area.

The aggrieved leaders, elders and stakeholders of the community have decried the firm’s non – commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the host community, but instead, erroneously laid claim to the Ete – Okopedi community road project undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since early 2000.

Under the aegis of the Ukpum Ete Unity Association (UEUA), the concerned community leaders described the action of the petrochemical company as a complete falsehood capable of festering the already existing disharmony and mistrust between the community and the firm since arriving the area.

The spokesman of the company, Mr. Aniekeme Finbarr, the community recalled, had erroneously attributed the Ete – Okopedi road to Sterling Global’s CSR for the host community, a claim they noted, has the potential of forcing angry reactions from the rightful project owner – the NDDC.

Clarifying the matter in a communique signed by the UEUA president, Mr. Eno Ebenezer Etukakpan, and secretary general, Hon. Emmanuel Ekwere Akpan, yesterday, the community asked the firm to withdraw what it noted, was “a false narrative aimed at misleading the general public.”

“We dispute the claim made by Mr. Aniekeme Finbarr, the spokesman of the company as misleading and false. His claims appear motivated by personal gains from Sterling Petrochemical Company.

“There’s a distinction between political propaganda and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Not everything should be politicised. The falsehood is tantamount to insults on Ukpum Ete Clan’s sensibilities, and we won’t take it lightly.

“The Ete-Okopedi road was constructed in the early 2000s with NDDC funding, and was facilitated by the late commissioners – U.M. Akpan and Nsima Etukakpan, by JCC construction firm.

“The essence of the  said road was for easy access for our women going to the farms and fishing settlements. It was not for heavy duty trucks.

“Sterling Petrochemical’s activities, including heavy trucks and reckless driving, have damaged the road, and their patches aren’t equivalent to constructing a 14km road.

“Sterling Petrochemical has a poor CSR record in Ukpum Ete Clan. We urge the public to disregard the false claims and demands  retraction within 7 days, failure of which we will have no other option than to resort to legal action,” the communique stated.