Youths Protest Exclusion From Palm Plantation Seized By Akwa Ibom Govt

Hundreds of youths from the six communities of Esit Eket local government area hosting the  Dakkada Global Oil Palm (DGOP) Limited have protested alleged non-employment and marginalisation by the company.

LEADERSHIP Friday learnt the oil palm estate was seized from the natives of Etebi Idung Assan, Ntak Inyang, Orukin, Unyenghe, Udung Ukpo and Akwata, by the state government with a commensurate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create jobs for the locals, but the aggrieved youths were denied job opportunities.

They were armed with  placards with varying inscriptions: “No single employment of indigene during this administration”; “Mr. Ofonime Okpok, Don’t Take Our Palm Fruits And Resell To Your Community Again”; “We need Investors Not Political Associates”; “Governor Pls Change The Manager”, and, “His Excellency What Is Worth Doing, Is Worth Doing Well,” Etc.

The spokesperson of the protesters, who is the youth president of Etebi Idung Assan, Mr Anietie Matthew, expressed dissatisfaction with the management of the plantation, alleging that it has failed to prioritise the welfare of host communities.

“During the 2023 governorship campaign, Gov. Umo Eno, promised the host communities employments, but unfortunately nothing has been done up till now,” Matthew recalled.

He accused a company official, Mr. Ofonime Okpok, of allegedly collecting N10 million from local businesswomen for the purchase of palm fruits without supplying the produce.

“The Manager allegedly collected the sun of N10 million from women of the communities with a promise of selling palm fruits to them but failed,” he stressed.

Also speaking, Mr Uduak Inyang, youth president of Urueffong-Oruko, LGA, claimed that the equipment at the old mill within the facility has been vandalised.

Inyang also alleged that an abandoned labour camp previously used by Akwa Palm industries had been damaged with roofing materials reportedly removed and sold as scrap.

He, therefore, called on Governor Eno, to intervene by ensuring the fulfillment of promises made to the communities before and during the last 2023 elections.

Inyang further demanded the refund of the N10 million allegedly collected from the local women for palm fruits not supplied, warning that no harvesting of palm fruits should take place in the plantation until the company, under the supervision of the Akwa Ibom Government addresses their demands.