The member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Moses Essien has alerted on the need to tap some of the overflowing corked oil wells in his constituency to address the economic hazards it has subjected his people to
He mentioned the villages where the corked oil wells, now overflowing, were situated including: Edem Urua, Ikpanya, Omu Ekene, and Aka Ikot Udo Eno, all in Ibiono Ibom local government area of the state.
Interacting with the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Wednesday, Essien recalled that the oil wells were discovered by Shell many years ago but were corked and abandoned because the oil therein was not found to be in commercial quantity for exploration.
He, therefore, called on the Ministry of Petroleum to conduct an assessment of the sites to ascertain the level of oil in the wells expressing hope that they are large enough for commercial purposes hence the overflow.
Essien also noted the level of untapped natural resources in Ibiono such as granite deposit, saying that he would soon come up with a motion in the House of Assembly on the exploitation of natural resources in Ibiono Ibom even as he called for the establishment of industries that would easily and readily use the raw materials that abound in the area.
According to him, “There are so many potentials in Ibiono Ibom, very soon I’m going to come up with a motion at the House of Assembly which will focus on the natural resources that abound in Ibiono Ibom. One of them is that we have a lot of granite in large quantities and large deposits in Use Ikot Amama. If we have an industry there, we can produce toilet wares, breakable plates, and insulators that are used by electricians in holding wires in various poles. All I need to do is to come up with appropriate modalities to inform the government to cite an industry that can tap the wealth of these resources. This can create employment and generate revenue for the state.
“Apart from that, we have some oil-corked wells in Ibiono Ibom discovered by Shell many years ago but were found not to be in a commercial quantity for exploration, these wells were corked and left. Some of these oil wells have overflown and it’s causing economic hazards to the people.”
Essien, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services called for the full implementation of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Law which was passed and assented to in 2022, even as he noted that Governor Umo Eno on Monday inaugurated the Board for Akwa Ibom Health Insurance Scheme; signalling activation of the law.
The lawmaker also revealed that the governor is building a model health facility in the 31 local government areas of the state.
He said, “We want full implementation of the health insurance law so that those civil servants whose salaries are deducted for health insurance schemes would access health services at a cheaper rate.”