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The Akwa Ibom State Labour and Industrial Committee has advised youths of Udung Uko local government area to refrain from disrupting exploration activities at an oil and gas facility operated by the Amalgamated Oil Company of Nigeria (AMOCON).
This advice was given during a meeting involving the Labour Committee, traditional rulers, the Chairman of the Udung Uko Local Government Council, Udung Uko Youths and AMOCON representatives. The meeting addressed a dispute that has persisted for over a decade regarding the companyβs operations in the host communities.
The Chairman of the Labour Committee, Rt. Hon. Nse Essien, PhD, who presided over the meeting, strongly condemned the practice of interrupting the companyβs operations, including the placement of injunctions at its operational base. He stated that the government would no longer tolerate such actions and urged the youths to forward all grievances to the committee for amicable resolution. Essien assured the affected communities that once the dispute over the establishment of the Board of Trustees (BOT) is resolved, they would receive their entitled benefits.
The Paramount Ruler of Udung Uko, His Royal Majesty Edidem Bassey Etim Edet, JP, commended the Labour Committee for its intervention and expressed satisfaction with the amicable handling of the dispute.
The Chairman of Udung Uko Local Government Area, Elder Godwin Okponung, supported the committeeβs observations and urged community leaders to use appropriate communication channels to address grievances, rather than resorting to self-help or injunctions.
A former State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Arc. Otu Ita Toyo, noted that the prolonged dispute stemmed from stakeholders’ failure to fulfill their responsibilities. He emphasized that while AMOCON is in Udung Uko for business, the host communities’ rights must be respected. Toyo, referred to as the “Total Chair,” advocated for mutual cooperation to foster peace.
The Labour Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Essien, announced that the committee would conduct an on-site assessment of the host communities on Wednesday to investigate the concerns raised by both the host and affected communities.
A Youth Leader in the Area, Dr. Samuel Duncan, stressed the urgency of addressing the community’s concerns. Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Dr. Duncan called for environmental impact assessments across all oil fields in the area, a review of land agreements, youth training programs, payment of haulage fees, release of host community contracts, allocation of youth employment slots, proper alignment of host communities, and payment of all outstanding compensations and homages, among other demands.
Dr. Duncan expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver justice to the Udung Uko people, who he said have endured the negative impacts of AMOCON’s operations for over a decade. He praised Governor Umo Eno for his timely intervention and efforts to address the community’s concerns.
Earlier, Chief Paul Obi (SAN), representing AMOCON, clarified that the company is engaged in gas exploration. He noted that the company achieved no success in crude production from its first two oil wells, prompting further exploration in additional communities. Obi explained that since the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, AMOCONβs efforts to engage communities in establishing the BOT have been hindered by conflicting interests. He appealed to the Labour Committee for assistance in facilitating dialogue with the communities to set up the BOT.
