Fishermen, farmers decry environmental degradation

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Fishermen and farmers in coastal areas of Akwa Ibom State have lamented the havoc they go through because of oil and gas exploration.

They said their means of livelihood were being threatened.

The people spoke yesterday when a delegation of Fishing and Farming Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (MPCS) from coastal communities visited the Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON) secretariat in Uyo.

The visit was to identify with the philosophy of AKIPCON, especially as it related to the struggle for compensation from oil and gas companies to indigenes.

The leaders of fish and crop farmers, Mr. Christopher Akpan and Nkereuwem Akpe, lamented the losses members have incurred.

They listed them: Loss of fishing equipment, outboard motor engines, lack of potable water, pollution of water bodies and contamination of sea foods, low crop yield, oily soil due to oil spills on farmlands, lack of compensation, non-award of scholarships to their children and wards, among others.

They urged AKIPCON to fight for their rights, pledging their support.

AKIPCON President Dr. Ufot Phenson thanked the group for the visit.

He promised to protect the environment and rights of the people.

According to him, “we will ensure that compensations of decades of environmental degradation and exploitation, occasioned by oil and gas companies’ operations, as championed by AKIPCON, are paid.”

Phenson said the suffering and negative impact of over 50 years of oil and gas exploration and production by multinational companies had caused the people their occupation, namely fishing and farming.

He regretted that families of those engaged in fishing and farming, despite the frustration, could not enrol their children in schools, afford three square meals or meet daily needs, as profits from their occupations were hampered, following the negative impact of oil and gas activities on the soil, water and air.

Phenson said the lives of Niger Deltans were shortened because of poisoned air emanating from flare gas and poisoned sea foods.

He hoped that with the measures taken by AKIPCON, the masses would be relieved.