Four days going as youth that play host to ExxonMobil barricaded all
routes leading to the company operational facilities blocking all
vehicular activities including the company helipad insisting that the
company must meet all their demands as contained in the series of
letters they sent before the blockage can be lifted.
According to NationalHelm,
they Youths expressed displeasure on the lukewarm attitude of the
management of the company for treating their concern with levity,
promising to frustrate any deal or negotiation that is contrary to the
demands of the host communities.
According to one of the youth who
spoke on condition of anonymity stated there is the world where oil is
explore and the host communities lived in penury with decay
infrastructure.
“I have never seen any where in the
world where oil is drill and the people of the area lived in self pity.
This is only happening in Akwa Ibom State because of our peaceful
disposition. We will never fold our arms and watch our God given
resources being used to develop other areas while our people are
watching from the sideline,” he emphasized.
According
to, NationalHelm, the youth demanded for relocation of ExxonMobil
operational office to the host communities, employment of indigenes in
the company, empowerment of youth in the area, provision of
infrastructural facilities among others.