AGAIN, SEPTA GAS, HOST COMMUNITIES CLASH IN AKWA IBOM STATE

By Assam Abia Worried by the non-payment of approved claims and compensation for the septa Energy Gas pipeline route which traverses Ikot Abasi local Government Area through Mkpat Enin, Onna,Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Area, youth of the affected host communities are poised for war with septa Energy Nigeria and the state ministry of lands if the said claims and compensation are not released to the  communities through their various consultants before the end of September, 2011. The youths under the auspices of youths of affected Host communities in septa gas pipeline project in Eket Senatorial District vent their anger while reacting to a publication in a local tabloid in which one Barr. Ime Ndon of the Ministry of Lands and Town Planning was quoted as saying that the Ministry of Lands and Town Planning had paid the sum of six hundred and Eighty Million naira to the affected host communities in the five Local Government Areas. Speaking to newsmen, the chairman of the youth group, Obong Oku Edoho described the said publication as false, misleading and an imagination of the said staff of the Ministry. Obong Edoho recalled that since the Ministry hurriedly convened a meeting to publish the schedule of payment in July, 2011, it had only unilaterally paid what it termed community interest to the communities without taking care of individual claims and compensation. The group wondered how Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira paid to each of the seventy one villages cleared by the Ministry could translate to six Hundred and Eighty Million Naira. They claimed that they have been denied the right to use the large expanse of affected land for farming and other means of livelihood thereby causing them untold hardship, even as the second season planting had commenced. They also wondered the foot-dragging in the payment of the claimed sum of money even though they are aware of the huge amount of money septa Energy paid to Government as compensation which was in billions naira. The youth group therefore threatens to do everything humanly possible to make sure they get what rightly belongs to them. Collaborating, the position of the youth, some traditional rulers who pleaded anonymity described the situation as an abuse of the patience and understanding of the affected host communities. They lamented the stress and vigorous efforts they had put into restraining the youths, and called on the relevant authorities to act rightly before the matter gets out of hand.