ExxonMobil has firmly denied allegations of an oil spill from its facilities in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
The accusations emerged following protests by youths from the Ibeno Local Government Area, who claimed that a substantial oil leak from an ExxonMobil facility had severely polluted their environment.
Ogechukwu Udeagha, the Regional Communication Manager for ExxonMobil, addressed these claims in a statement on Tuesday.
"There has been no release of oil from any of our facilities," Udeagha asserted. He further emphasized that ExxonMobil is not the only operator in the area and that a preliminary inspection by a government agency did not identify any of the company's facilities as a potential source of the alleged spill.
The protests, which took place on Monday, saw local youths taking to the streets to express their frustration and demand accountability.
Paul Essiet, a community leader, voiced the grievances of the affected residents. "We are angry because an oil spill from a facility belonging to ExxonMobil has polluted our farmlands and rivers.
Farming and fishing activities have been put to a halt since the spill began about a week ago," Essiet stated. Despite ExxonMobil's denial, the tension between the company and the host communities remains palpable.
Udeagha reiterated the company's commitment to environmental protection and the well-being of the local communities. "The protection of the environment and our host communities remains a key priority in our operations," he said.
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