Part 3
In the 2023 earth-blast operation of Geo-seismic Survey Limited, several Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State were affected, with pundits questioning why the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, through the relevant ministry, seems unaware of the harmful consequences inflicted upon community dwellers, which contradicts his ARISE agenda.
“I know clearly what the Governor stands for and for the Ministry of Environment who should monitor and supervise such activities within the State and report to the Governor should say they were waiting to be informed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, who fails in its function here, makes one to then look at the big administrative error and the issue of betrayal,” a public analyst who seeks to be anonymous queried.
The 17 Local Government Areas where Geo-Seismic operation occurred are; Etinan, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno, ONNA, Obot Akara, Okobo, Oron, Eastern Obolo, Mbo, Orue Offong/Oruko and Udung Uko.
Paramount Rulers Speak
Speaking with Paramount Rulers of these areas, they revealed their own experiences with Geo-seismic Survey Limited operations in their domain.
Paramount Ruler Etinan, HRM Edidem Enefiok Monday Akpanobong, who is also the Village Head of Nkana, and the Clan Head of Iman, recounted experience.
“For peace sake, we allowed Geo-seismic Survey Limited to carry out their operation in our community after their initial discussion with the community in which they presented a bottle of drink. I don’t know if that is what they called the due consultation, which they should have had with the people and without disclosing the depth of their activities and the possible impact on us as a community.
“You will wake up in the morning and see strange people cutting down trees, bushes. Even if they find palm tree, cassava, anything on the seismic line, they will destroy it. When we called their attention on the unwarranted destruction of economic trees, they promised to come back for negotiation to settle owners of damaged crops. I took their words and believed that they would come back, which is taking so long.
“One of my subjects even accused me of collecting bribe, which is why they destroyed his palm trees that he bought with a lot of money. I assured my subjects that Geo-seismic will come back for compensation as promised.
“Some of my people who went to Delta State say it is different there. The company conducted EIA and settled the communities before embarking on any project in Delta State. So many of our farmlands have been destroyed.
“During the Panel Review meeting, the company lied to the Panel that they conducted EIA but was discovered they did not.
“At Ikot Ibok in Etinan LGA, the villagers almost lynched Geo-seismic team if not for my intervention, which I assured the people that they will come back and compensate them,” Paramount Ruler Etinan LGA, HRM Edidem Enefiok Monday Akpanobong, narrated.
HRM Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang’s account of the story
“The company had promised to come back to compensate for crops and whatever they destroyed. This is the phase we are waiting for. Concerning the stipend of workers, which were alleged not to have been paid, I, as the Royal Father, said, I was not aware. Well, I don’t know what they did there because the people they asked us to bring, they requested a formal letter recommending them. The process they followed and how they hired them, I did not know. I have not heard of them not being paid. That will be terrible.
“About the EIA and other initial negotiations, that may be technical for me to answer. So, I am not competent to talk about technical compliance. I can only talk about community compliance.”
The CSOs’ Perspective
A consultant on Health Safety and Environment, also the immediate past Chairman of Vocational Health and Safety Association, United Kingdom, Nigeria Chapter, Akwa Ibom branch, Dr. Kufre Essien spoke on the environmental and safety impact of the seismic operation.
“Environmental law states clearly that before you can carry out such an activity, there should be Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. That is the standard globally and is applicable in Nigeria. So, the company should have carried out that. EIA is a process that spell out what will be the negative impact of a certain project or activity in a particular geographical environment and will also spell out what the benefits will be and how they are going to manage the negative impact.
“So, if it is true that the company did not put in place an EIA report before the operation, first, it shows there is a violation which makes the company liable and the community can take action on the matter in the court of law. The law clearly states that if that aspect of the law is violated, there is a fine attached to it. So, it is a matter of violating a Nigerian law, which is also in line with global best practices, and the company should pay a penalty for it.
“EIA is always displayed, and during community consultation, the communities are fully briefed on their operation before they are accepted into the communities. The regulators like the Federal Ministry of Environment and the State Ministry of Environment as observers should be part of the community consultation where all stakeholders are gathered.
“If it is true, the company was contracted by Sterling Oil Limited, then it could be that there was no EIA because from my experience with the company, most of their works that I consulted for around Mkpat Enin do not have EIA. There is always the issue of compromise. Like when I interfaced for the company, after everything, I offered a technical paper on how they can go about the project, following due process. But at the end, everything just went off like that and of course you know some people can be settled just to frustrate the process.
This is Nigeria, where there is always a conflict of interest where the political class is at the detriment of the people. So, it is the problem of corruption that is affecting the system.
“Coming back to the activity of Seismic, you know during that blasting, there will be a lot of destruction that will occur within the affected communities. I am speaking as an expert in the field. There is no how buildings will not be affected. When the blasting occurs, there will be a lot of vibration that may even affect the foundation of some buildings. Then crops will be destroyed. Even some animals will escape from the environment. Of course, you know that blasting alone can affect a person with health condition like hypertension. It could trigger it. So, there is a whole lot of destruction done.
“The point here is that if they had done their EIA, those points would have been identified and how to remedy it spelt out.
“Most times, the communities do not seek experts’ advice or knowledge. So, I also blame them. This is why these people will come in like that, cause several havocs without recourse to the Law or the people and get away with it. In that kind of situation, an environmentalist needs to speak for the community.
“Another issue which works against communities is that they are not united. There are a lot of collaborators within the communities who work with the company against the general good of the people. I see this every time as a consultant. Instead of being united on a cause to protect their environment, there will be factions among community stakeholders as some persons will turn around and get peanuts at the detriment of community progress.
“Don’t be surprised that some of these companies have connections in government, which gives them the audacity to do whatever they like and walk away with it. This is Nigeria’s situation.
Ibom Developers Fze supports Ikot Abasi small businesses with industrial umbrellas
“Violation of aspects of the extant laws are not negotiable because the law clearly speaks on these environmental issues,” Dr. Kufre Essien, a consultant on Health Safety and Environment, explained.
Another environmentalist’s reaction on seismic operation
“This causes a lot of effect, and the basic is vibration. There are a lot of standards, both international and local. I did not want to delve into the 50m distance, but I want to tell you for free and authoritatively that if actually 50m was the distance used during the seismic operation, then it was grossly inadequate and unacceptable. Of course, the distance of 50m is like a Pole-to-Pole electrical line along a road or may be a football pitch. With that, you know the distance is too short for such an activity. If you talk about 1000m, which is 1km, that is supposed to be about the minimum distance.
“There are many conditions kept for any company which wants to carry out seismic operation. EIA must be carried out. This is to determine the impact and the effect this operation will have on the environment, including humans, aquatic lives, plants, buildings and many other things.
“There are other impacts aside the physical. Various psychological impacts could be induced on people. Whether buildings have collapsed or not, seismic activity has a serious impact on people around the community. Even the earth-crust can not remain the same,” Mr. Micah Eyo, an environmentalist, explained.
What the Law says
In the failure to obey the tenets of Environmental Impact Assessment, the EIA Decree 1992, Section 62 clearly states the fine attached to persons or bodies and makes them guilty of an offence.
Also, according to Section 13 sub (2) of the EIA Decree 1992, if the company did not have the EIA in place before commencement of the project, that Section of the EIA Decree has seriously been violated.
Since, the State Ministry of Environment and even the Federal Ministry allegedly claimed that they were not properly informed about the operation and accused the company for not having the EIA in place before operation, it therefore means Section 57 sub (1) and sub (2a) of the EIA Decree 1992 have been violated by actors involved in this operation as the EIA was not properly registered for easy access by the public and the respective Ministry did not access it in a follow-up plan till the completion of the said project.
An IOC conducting blasting without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) violates the foundational Nigerian Constitution, Section 20, which mandates that the State shall protect and improve the environment, safeguard the water, air, and land, forests, and wildlife of Nigeria. Additionally, this action could violate individuals’ constitutional right to life and human dignity, guaranteed under Sections 33(1) and 34(1) respectively of the Nigerian Constitution. These are interpreted to encompass the right to a healthy environment.
Map view
From record, about 27 points were blasted in Ikot Inyang Village, Etinan LGA. If it is true that 50m distance was used by the company for each point of blast against the environmental standard distance of 200m, then there is much to be explained by the company. Also, if they did not comply to the safe distances in metres against vibration impact resulting from seismic detonation prescribed by Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN) third edition 2018, then there is much to be revealed by the company.
Google Earth map showing approximate of 50m distance the blast occured in a few locations in Etinan LGA.
The geographical view using Google Earth map to measure approximate distance to the 50m using different scales indicates the possible impact of the blast on lives, properties, and natural vegetation of the affected communities.
According to an expert, for a layman’s understanding, 50m is like Pole-to-Pole distance of electrical line along the road. That is the alleged distance Geo-seismic used during the earth blast activity in Etinan LGA locations like Ikot Inyang, Primary Health Centre – Nkana, Community Secondary School – Nkana, Group school Oniong, Primary School – Awa Ntong, Oniong Primary Health Centre, etc.
The graphics with specific scales clearly show the approximate distance of 50m at 50.9m on the scale of 100m at Oniong Primary Health Centre, Etinan LGA.
Also, the approximate distance of 50m at 50.17m on a scale of 200m at Primary Health Centre Ikot Inyang, Etinan LGA.
Who are the beneficial owners of Geo-siesmic Survey Limited?
From the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) portal, Geo-seismic Survey Limited has the registration number – RC – 679300.
Its officers are:
~ Oke Elizabeth Abosede as a person with significant control and was appointed on July 20, 2023.
~ Andrew Celia Aladi. Also, a person with significant control was appointed on July 20, 2023.
~ Geodynamics and GeoSurvey Ltd are Directors with residence in Nigeria.
~ Shenkar Yadav is also a Director.
Persons of significant control are all active. They own a 5% share of the company with no voting right. They can fire and hire Directors but do not have significant influence in the company. They also do not have the power over activities of the company.
The above information from the CAC portal explains the company’s make-up, the officers, and how they are framed to function.
