Ceding 76 oil wells to A-Ibom has caused hardship – Imoke

By Luka Binniyat
CALABAR — The governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, said that the ceding of 76 oil wells from the state to Akwa Ibom State in June this year has caused untold hardship to the state, noting that President Umaru Yar’Adua had taken a critical look into the matter and has ordered for a review of the directive.

The governor, who spoke to journalists at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, weekend, said, “Mr President has given directives that the matter be addressed urgently.”

He also said that the low volume of  business in  Tinapa, the multi-billion Naira exquisite, commercial and holiday resort by the banks of the Calabar River, was attributed to lack of will of the Federal Government to put in place crucial infras-tructure needed

On the 76 oil wells, he said, “in various corresponden-ces and meetings we have held with the President, he had directed that the matter be reviewed and we eagerly await the outcome.”

According to the governor, the most recent  directive was about two weeks ago. “The impact of taking away those oil wells from Cross River has been very adverse.  This year alone, we are not being able to implement our budgeted programmes.

“Most affected are our people-oriented programmes that have suffered major setbacks and other sectors have been affected adverse-ly too. We can hardly sustain ourselves, given that Cross River State is also the largest debtor state in the country.”
he said.