Fishermen in A’Ibom Urge FG to Wade into Oil Spill Compensation
By Okon Bassey in Uyo
More than 7,000 artisan fishermen operating in the Atlantic coastline of Akwa Ibom cried out on Wednesday to the Federal Government for the losses suffered as a result of incessant oil spills in their area of operations
The affected fishermen under the aegis of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN) have therefore called on the Federal Government to urgently intervention in ensuring that adequate compensation is made in order to alleviate their suffering.
The State Secretary of ARFAN, Akwa Ibom Chapter, Mr Inyang Ekong alleged in an interview that their claims for the compensation from ExxonMobil starting from 1998 were still pending at the presidency.
“We are appealing to President Mohammadu Buhari to intervene in this matter and ensure that ExxonMobil releases oil spill compensation to fishermen in the state.
“The artisans are here to report how we are suppressed through the payment of compensation to communities and non-payment of compensation to the affected fishermen”, he said.
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