Nigerian communities demand cleanup of abandoned oil wells in Akwa Ibom

Residents in Ikono and Ibiono Ibom local government areas of Akwa Ibom State are demanding urgent action regarding abandoned oil wells. Decades of neglect have created fears of pollution, health risks, and illegal crude activities. Community members shared accounts of oil pollution, declining agricultural yields, damaged ecosystems, and alleged illegal operations around these aging facilities during a dialogue organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation at Ikot Enua on Wednesday. The gathering aimed to identify environmental concerns, build consensus on priority issues, and develop recommendations for government engagement. This follows earlier calls by environmental groups for an audit of abandoned wells across the Niger Delta region.