Cross River Communities Cry Out Over Pollution

Forest Communities in three local government areas of Cross River State have called on governmnent and relevant non-governmnental Organizations to come to their aid over environmental polllution, contamination and degredation of their waters by the operating companies in the areas.

Leading the Communities on Advocacy visit to some of the affected villages, Coordinator of community Forest watch, Morris Olory and the youth leader of Akampa local government area Paul Asuquo, said basic amenities are lacking in the Communities even as the stream waters they use daily have been contaminated by the activities of the oil palm company operating in the areas.

They called on governmnent to intervene by reviewing the environmental impact assessment given to the companies to give the forest Communities a breath of new life.

Reacting to the allegatiions of provision of lack of Corporate Social Responsibilities in the Communities, representative of Ebiaye Palm oil Production,Asen Ako said the company has invested largely in education and health care intervention in the communities in the last eight years.

Cross River State is housing over Seventy five percent of the remaining rich forest vegetation in Nigeria, however, communities in Akampa, Odukpani and Biase local government Areas are  Complaining of water borne diseases and environmental pollution in their villages.