MARGINALIZATION OF OIL AND GAS PRODUCING COMMUNITIES IN AKWA IBOM STATE; A CASE OF ORO NATION.

The Oil and Gas Industry is rightly adjudged as the major contributant to the economies of developed countries as well as the economies of emerging and developing countries around the globe. This is majorly attributed to the growing technology of the world, which, needless to say, may not thrive effectively without the use of oil and gas products as natural gas, petrol, gasoline, lubricants, kerosene, asphalt oil, liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG); etc.

For the Oil producing countries, investment in the production and development of these products have always been a tradition. Following this is a simultaneous development of the communities, areas, towns, and cities where the exploration and production of these products are done. For example, Abu Dhabi which is the largest oil producing city in The United Arab Emirates (UAE) which also sits as her capital is one of the most developed cities in the world. The city which is largely developed with tributariness of qualitative roads, airports, electricity and bewildering technologies holds 9% of world proven oil reserve at 98.2bn barrels. Other developed oil and gas producing cities and towns which follow after includes Houston (USA), Stavanger (Norway), Calgary (Canada), and more.

However in this part of Africa, development of oil and gas producing localities is a scarce and moreso, a scary practice. Such is the case Oro (consisting of five local governments; including, Oron, Mbo, Okobo, Urue offong Oruko and Udung Uko Local governments) which just like the Hassi Messaoud of Algeria constitutes the major exploratory shores of oil and gas in Akwa Ibom State, and Nigeria as a whole. The area which squares a total 63sqmi land mass is rammed in oil and natural gas amongst other resources which makes it closely one of the largest oil and gas producing areas in Africa. Extensively, the oil rich area has accounted for more than 25% of Akwa Ibom State's 31.4% of the total oil produced daily in Nigeria, making the State sit as the highest oil producing state in Nigeria.

In sane thoughts, it would be expected that the Oro nation (as it fondly called) would be a sheen and exceptional haven of development boasting of exquisite basic amenities such as good roads, constant electricity, industries, recreational centres, hotels, housing systems, sea ports and a robust economy with massive employment opportunities. But hitherto, it is rather sardonic to state that the area is deficient of all the amenities mentioned above.

According to the indigenes and residents of the area, the Oro nation has been constantly marginalized by the both the State and Federal governments. Unlike is the case in saner climes mentioned above, the area is deficient of amenities and industries which would contribute reverberated development within her climes. Corroborating this fact is a list issued by the State government in January, 2020 to Exxon Mobil, the major oil producing company in Akwa Ibom State, recognizing the Oil and Gas producing communities in the state. Surprisingly, none of the communities in Oro nation was included in the list.

This malignant development has sparked outrage amongst the big wigs, youths, and every child of Oro nation as they gathered on Monday, 24th of February to protest against the bigotry on the part of the Akwa Ibom State government. In cases like this, one would tend to wonder if development of an area should in actuality be an act of ethnic popularity or economic productivity.

The Oro nation therefore beckon on the Akwa Ibom State and in extension, the federal government to review her stay as it concerns the recognition and development of Oro nation as oil and Gas producing area.

#Enough is Enough

EKEUWEI, TARILA