Gov. Umo Eno presiding at the meeting on Wednesday.
By Anietie Akpan
The Akwa Ibom state government has barred Sterling Global, a multinational oil company operating in the state from any further encroachment on land in its area of operations.
The state government took this decision on Wednesday, April 2, as part of resolutions taken at the end of its 4th Executive Council (EXCO) meeting in the EXCO Chambers since reconstitution and was presided over by the State Governor, Dr. Umo Eno with the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, and other EXCO members in attendance.
A five point communique issued by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah at the end of the meeting, said the state government took the decision following complaints received from various communities in the oil-bearing part of the State, particularly the area of operations of the Sterling Global.
Accordingly, “the State Executive Council after due consideration and review, directed that the oil company to immediately revert and limit its operations within the 1000 hectares of land earlier allocated to them and the 700 hectares buffer zone”.
In addition, “Council therefore directed that the company must stop any further encroachment or closing of any creek in the state and directed the Ministry of Lands to take appropriate actions to ensure the determination of all statuses as regards the approvals given, to ensure that they operate within the confines of the Law”.
Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah.
The EXCO, in pursuant to the Agriculture and Food Sufficiency programme of the ARISE Agenda, inaugurated the Akwa Ibom State Agriculture and Food Security Committee.
The eight-member committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. Okon Ansa, has as members, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, Prof. Trenchard Ibia, Prof. Elizabeth Ebukiba, Dr. Etemudo Udongo, Ambassador Alphonsus Inyang and Pastor Godwin Ukwat, while Mr. Ofonbuk Nelson will serve as Secretary.
The Committee was charged to “design data based food production and processing system to ensure food availability through adequate food stock and feedstock for farmers in the State as enshrined in the ARISE Agenda as envisioned by the Governor”.
In other resolutions taken, Governor in Council granted approval for the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to exercise supervisory role over the Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure and Asset Management and Maintenance Agency, with effect from today, April 2, 2025.
This decision according to the communique, followed a memo brought before Council by the Head of the Civil Service on the importance and strategic nature of the Agency and need to provide effective oversight on its operations for efficiency and effectiveness.
EXCO Session.
Following a memo also presented by the Head of Civil Service and in pursuant to the directive of the Governor for the recruitment of Safety Officers into the Akwa Ibom State Public Service and issuance of Establishment Circular No.1 of 2024, for the domestication of Federal Circular on the creation of Occupational Safety Officers Cadre in the Public Service, Umanah said, “Council approved the establishment of the Department of Occupational Safety in the Akwa Ibom State Public Service, to be headed by a Permanent Secretary under the Office of the Head of Civil Service”.
Council also took presentations from various ministries on their plans, projects and short term goals and provided pathways to improved service delivery.
Pillar Today recalled that Sterling Global, operating in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state has been accused by the community and Media Action for Accountable Leadership (MAFAL), a non-profit organization on transparency and accountability in corporate activities, over the negative activities of the oil firm in Eastern Obolo.
The company according to petitions, was said to be “responsible for the wanton destruction of the ecosystem in Eastern Obolo. The company’s operations have led to deforestation, pollution of water bodies, and the loss of habitat for wildlife”.
