Youths from Udung Uko Local Government Area, under the umbrella of the Confederated Udung Uko Youth Council has staged a peaceful protest over the conduct of an oil company, Amalgamated Oil Company of Nigeria (AMACON) in the area.
The demonstration was aimed at expressing their grievances against AMACON for its alleged ill-treatment of the community.
Our correspondent reports that the youths numbering over 100 were seen matching across roads singing and carrying placards with various inscriptions that read, “non-compliance by the oil company”, “end poor welfare package”, and among others.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters at Udung Uko LGA on Friday, the Chairman of the youth body, Dr. Samuel Duncan, said that AMACON has been operating in the area for over 10 years, causing immense pain, suffering, and diseases among the people.
He highlighted several concerns, including AMACON’s failure to conduct environmental impact assessments, flaring gas against federal government guidelines, and neglecting community development projects.
Duncan criticised the company’s refusal to recognize Community Liaison Officers and incorporate Host Community Development Trust.
“Since the inception of the company in the community, they had not obey any law of the land. Nigeria is govern by law, and AMACON has refused to obey any of the extant laws regulating the oil and gas industry.
“To start with, since AMACON came into our community more than 10 years ago, the company has not carry out environmental impact assessment that is a requirement of the law to any project of that magnitude. Because of that, the devasting consequences of AMACON’s operation in Udung Uko has left to spread diseases amongst the people. Our people are down with cancer, kidney problem, respiratory diseases, dead, amongst others.
“AMACON.M is flaring gas against the federal government’s guidelines. This had been causing alot of damages and problems to us, through destroying the roof on our building.
“Aside that, there is no a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Company and the host Community. They’ve been conducting their operation in the secret. They would go in the night to meet old people who do not know what they’re doing with their drafted MOU, which is detrimental to to the needs of the people in the community.
“They’ve refused to carry out any Community development project, no scholarship nor support to the students. They’ve refused to recognize Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) nominated by the host Communities to them. And they’ve not incorporate Host Community Development Trust, that is the requirement of petroleum industry Act.
“We as youths of Udung Uko LGA have sorted every peaceful avenue to dialogue with the company, so that they can come to a round table and see how these issues can be sorted out, but they’ve refused.
“They’ve been taking out at least five (5) trucks of crude oil and gas out of our community, but then decided to treat us the way they’ve been doing. Where is the money they have been selling the gas going to? This is economic sabotage and the people of Udung Uko can not accept it.”
Duncan called on President Tinubu’s administration, the Senate President, and other relevant authorities to intervene and address the issues.
Other leaders, including Engr Paul Isangidighi, Comrade Edet Abia, and Prince Edetseting Ph.D., also spoke during the protest, emphasizing the need for AMACON to take responsibility for its actions and provide adequate compensation to the affected community.
