•Youths issue company 7-day ultimatum to mobilize contractors
•Mobil fumes, demands apology

By Chioma Onuegbu

ESIT EKET—CONTROVERSY has erupted between stakeholders at Esit Eket, Esit Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State and Mobil Producing Nigeria limited, MPN, over the neglect of N1 billion school projects awarded, last year, in the area following alleged failure of the company to pay the contractors.

•Unfinished Motor Vehicle Workshop at Union Technical College

NDV gathered that anxiety mounted in the area because of difficulties students were passing since the projects commenced.

The paramount ruler of the community, Edidem Ubong Assam II and other stakeholders, were filled with joy when the contracts were first awarded,became downcast, last week, especially as the projects were in lieu of compensation  oil unconstrained oil spillage in the community.

Also, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in the area, has expressed concern over the present situation, bemoaning that various school activities, including teaching, learning and science practicals were seriously hindered.

It was learned that the contractors could not complete the projects due to the failure of Mobil to pay the remaining 60 percent of the total contract sum of N1.080 billion, after paying an initial 40 per cent.

Our worries- Monarch

The paramount ruler, Edidem Assam11, who noted that he was present at the tripartite meeting of the state government, community representatives and Mobil, December, last year, when the contract for the educational intervention on Special Projects 11 was signed, appealed to the company to do the needful by releasing the outstanding money to the contractors to complete the job it already started.

He told NDV at his palace: “Mobil agreed to make the payments in three milestones, but it has only paid 40 percent. The third milestone was due in April, but up till now, they have not done that.

“I am appealing to Mobil to pay the remaining money so that the jobs can be completed, Esit Eket is known for maintaining peace and we are going to ensure peace between us and the company until this matter is resolved.

“We are only worried because the price of building materials is increasing every day, so I advise the company to settle the contractors so that the work will not be delayed further.”

NUT appeals to Mobil

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Esit Eket branch,   in a letter, dated October 26, 2016, addressed to the Managing Director of Mobil in Lagos, asserted: “These are laudable projects which when completed will enhance teaching and learning processes in our schools. However the union has observed with dismay the slow pace and delay which these projects have suffered over the past few months.

“Most of these projects are laboratories and classrooms that our students were managing before the intervention. We had hoped that before now these projects must have been completed and same put into use to solve our accommodation problems.

“Our inquiries from the contractors revealed that the financier, MPN has not released the 3rd milestone payment, which would have been used to complete the various projects. In view of this, the union passionately appeals to Mobil to release the 3rd milestone to contractors to enable them complete the projects and hand same to us for use.

“The union is highly worried about the continued delay of the projects as various schools activities, including teaching and learning and science practical are seriously hindered and hence our desire to write this letter in view of the WASSCE is fast approaching.”

Youths give 7-day ultimatum

Similarly, a youth group under the platform of Esit Eket Frontline Youth Movement, EEFYM, in a letter  to Mobil by its president and publicity secretary, Akan Etteudo and Godwin Elijah respectively, gave the company a seven- day ultimatum to ensure that the contractors returned to site.

It expressed disappointment that Mobil breached the agreement it signed with the community regarding the deployment of oil spill compensation funds and awarded contracts for the development of educational infrastructures in Esit Eket.

“In November 2015, your oil organization entered into an agreement with our community to make available some  of money to cushion the deadly effects of unchecked oil spillage, which came in the form of developmental projects.

“And paltry sums were made available with assurance from company that the balance would be paid to enable the local contractors and resource persons complete the job. But up till now, your company had failed to honour the agreement, forcing the contractors to abandon the contracts.

“It is with displeasure that we resort to use this medium, on behalf of the entire youths of Esit Eket to press home our grievances. As youths of the host community we believe in peaceful co-existence as violence does not bring anything good,” they lamented.

Mobil reacts, demands apology

However, the management of Mobil in reaction to the protest by the youths, wrote the Chairman of Esit Eket Local  Government Area, urging the youths to apologize and withdraw the letter.

The letter signed by the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Paul Arinze, read in part: “While we acknowledge the slow pace of execution of the Special Community Projects 11 in Esit Eket LGA, we wish to state that these allegations are erroneous, misleading and grossly misrepresentive of the facts.

“As you are aware the delay in the commencement of the project activities in Esit Eket for the most part was due to internal community disagreements and litigations. As soon as those issues were resolved the process for the disbursement of the first milestone was affected and payment subsequently made.

“Upon the completion of the first milestone project activities and submission of satisfactory reports by the project manager, I. F Global Services Limited, the second milestone payment was also made. Based on the value of measured work as earlier communicated, the process for the disbursement of the half milestone is going to be made,” the company noted.

Mobil is economical with the truth- Community leaders

However, some of the community leaders, Chief Ikemesit Ikot and Mr. Isaiah Abia, in separate interviews with NDV, said they were concerned about the delay of the projects, noting that from what they gathered, some of projects have reached 75 to 90 percent completion against the claim in a Mobil publication that project status in Esit Eket was just 46 percent.

Chief Ikot, who is from Uquo village said: “The community’s concern is that the projects are taking too long to complete. Mobil should take the education of youths in their host communities very serious. We had to go to court to force them to commence the project and one year after, only 40 percent of the total approved sum of N1.080 billion has been released to the contractors.

“Our second concern is that they are treating community contractors unfairly by using different basis to determine whether they are entitled to payment or not. Our children have suffered serious setbacks due to the delay in completion of the facilities, that is why we are calling on the company to settle the contractors so that the work can be completed,” he added.