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Normal operations have resumed at the Qua Iboe oil
terminal operated by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, after
Monday’s protest by host community’s youth.

A statement signed by Gloria Essien-Danner, Mobil’s Executive Director, External
Relations said the youth and fishermen from
Ibeno blocked the Eket-Ibeno road leading to the oil facility to press for
compensation for oil spills from the Qua Iboe oil fields.

The blockage prevented oil workers at the administrative building of the
terminal housing crude processing facilities, tank farm and offices from having
access to their duty posts.

It reportedly took the intervention of the
Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Council Area, Effiong Archianga, to disperse the
protesters.

Mobil Producing Nigeria, an affiliate of U.S. oil firm, ExxonMobil, restated
its commitment to the safety of lives and
property in its operational communities.

Reacting to the development, Samuel Ayadi, the Chairman, Artisanal Fishermen
Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom Chapter, said that the protest was caused by
rumours making rounds that the oil firm had paid compensation to some people in
the community, he said.

“Our members did not participate in the said protest, some misinformed people
thought that Mobil has paid some people. So,
the traditional ruler had to call the boys to order and assured them that Mobil
has not paid anybody. We are not happy with
the delay in the payment of compensation and we urge Mobil to fast-track the
process and bring relief to all affected people without further delay,” Mr Ayadi said.

Mobil had in a statement issued on May
2 confirmed that there was an oil spill from its Quo Iboe oil fields in the
Atlantic Ocean on May 1, which allegedly affected more than 600 fishermen in
the coastal communities in Akwa Ibom. The
affected fishermen had demanded a compensation of N600 billion from the oil
company but after a
meeting with the host communities brokered by the Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio, Mobil accepted to fund
community development projects worth N2 billion in the area as a palliative
measure.

But the host communities remain divided over
the proposed fund.