TO avert any outbreak of crisis between Rivers and Akwa Ibom states over Amenam Kpono field development project (0mh 99/100) operated by Tota Elf Petroleum Nigeria limited, the federal government has been told to urgently step into the raging controversy with a white paper affirming the territorial location of the project.
In a letter to President Umar Musa Yar Adua, the people of Andoni local government in Rivers State said the oil field is sited in its territorial waters, but that it was craftily ceded to Akwa Ibo State, thus informing the name Amenam Kpono, a coinage reportedly from Akwa Ibom.
According to the letter issued under the aegis of Andoni Supreme Youth Congress and signed by the duo of Tallick Christian and Peter Timothy, president and secretary respectively, they said for the sake of peace, the name Amena Kpono field development project should be replaced with �Andoni Field Development Project.�
They also demanded that a proper development plan be initiated by the oil giant for them, adding that �adequate gainful employment opportunities in Total (EPNL) be provided for graduates of Andoni origin. Andoni should be enrolled in Total Agric Micro Credit Scheme. Total (EPNL) should revisit their foreign and local scholarship scheme for Andoni scholars as well as improvement in the skills acquisition programme.”
They further blamed the crisis in the region on the long years of neglect of host communities by the multinational companies.
�We, as peace loving people in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, wish to urgently draw your attention to this act of wickedness and injustice to the undeveloped Andoni local government of Rivers State. No electricity, no single potable water�
Oct92007