Abandoned Road: Ibeno youths have protested alleged marginalization and urged Governor Udom Emmanuel to complete road project
Some aggrieved youths from Ibeno Local Government Area, had on Wednesday barricaded the Eket/Ibeno Road in protest of alleged marginalisation by ExxonMobil.
The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, also expressed worries over the deplorable state of the Eket/Ibeno Road.
Our Correspondent reports that some inscriptions read: ‘ExxonMobil engage our youths in the deep water project’, ‘We need light in our community’ and ‘Resuscitate our cottage hospital’, ‘We need good water in our community’, ExxonMobil clean your environment’, ‘Our fishermen are suffering because of sea-piracy among others’.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Chairman Ibeno Youths Association, Mr. Christopher Itia, said the entire community was unhappy over the activities of ExxonMobil in the area.
He said that the state government had also not been fair to the people in the implementation of projects.
According to him, the company unduly terminated the appointment of no fewer than 500 indigents of Ibeno who work as contract staff.
”We have no potable water, there is no electricity and facility in Ibeno, this should not be the lot of community hosting such a company.
He decried the activities of sea pirates and other criminal activities in the area, and urged security agencies to come to the people’s rescue.
Reacting, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong reportedly assured that the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government was cognizant of the people’s plight.
” We have not abandoned the Eket/Ibeno Road, the government has a robust programme for youth development,” he said.
The commissioner urged youths in the state to support government activities and programmes in the interest of development.
