We now Suffer from Low Sperm Count Due to Impact of Gas Flaring – Mbo Men Cry Out
…As Community Count more loses
By Ekemini Simon
The men of Unyenge Community in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom State have raised alarm over the impact of gas flaring on their sexual and reproductive life.
The men say impregnating their spouses is now an uphill task due to rise in low sperm count among the men in the community.
They noted that their health condition is as a result of the effect of heat that stems from gas flaring going on in their community.
This is coming weeks after the women of Esit Eket local government area complained that their men no longer last during sex due to impact of gas flaring.
Unyenge is a littoral oil and gas producing community that has endured damaging effects of gas flaring since Universal Energy commenced preliminary operations in 2005 and full commercial production in 2012.
The men of the area made their concerns known on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 when Policy Alert, a Civil Society Organization working on economic and ecological justice in the Niger Delta with support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa held a ” WetinWeGain town hall meeting” in the community.
According to a community leader in the area, Comrade Harry Johnson, rght from when Universal Energy commenced oil and gas exploration in their community, they have noticed worsening health conditions especially as it affects their sexual and reproductive life.
He said ” Universal Energy flares their gas 24/7 here in our community. And this has caused our environment to be very hot. The most damaging part of the heat is on our reproductive health. Now, our men in Unyenge complain of low sperm count which has made many unable to impregnate their wives. We have traced this to the high level of heat from the gas flared in our community. We want this to stop immediately else we will be without future generations”
Comrade Johnson also noted that most of the social investment claims by Universal Energy are only on paper and do not reflect the reality on ground.
He said ” Recently, Universal Energy claimed that they constructed a mini borehole with N10 million. How? They have exaggerated the amount. We are not carried along in the projects they claim they execute.”
John decried that despite the fact that the deadline for the establishment of Host Community Development Trust had elapsed, Universal Energy is yet to meet the community on the way forward for the Trust.
A woman Leader in the community, Mrs Arit Etim expressed displeasure over the rate of development in the area despite the volume of oil resources contributed from the community to the country and State.
While stressing that Unyenge Community has not gained from oil exploration rather loses, she said ” You all have seen the deplorable road to this community. Is this befitting for a community that generates billions of naira to the federal government and State daily through oil and gas revenue?
” We do not have little things like market stalls, or lock up shops. Once it rains, we run with our wares. Yet, we bear the name of an oil producing community. Since I came back from Lagos State 35 years ago, this community is the same as it was. No development or semblance of an oil-rich community”.
On his part, the Vice President, Unyenge Youth Progressive Association, Comrade Christopher Ekpo noted that the decade of exploitation of the community resources without benefits is an act of injustice they believe will boomerang one day.
He said while the youths will continue to push for their rights peacefully, the company and government should not on their part push them to the wall through neglect.
Also speaking, representative of the Village Head, Chief Bassey Nkereuwem Edemekong thanked Policy Alert for the training and readiness for partnership thus assisting the community to derive benefit from oil exploration in their community.
He said although the livelihood, health and environment of the community have been devastated by oil exploration, they will not give up in pressing for their rights through appropriate channels.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan said the essence of the town hall meeting was to share vital information with the community which they will use for robust engagement with relevant actors as it concerns oil and gas exploration in their domain.
He said ” From all you have narrated, we have seen that oil has taken away your human rights. However, we can assure you that you all have the right to life, a healthy life and a healthy environment. With the information that we will share, we are hopeful that you will use it to engage constructively and peacefully thus restore your rights and possibly get remedy”.
The Program Lead Energy, Extractives and Climate Justice of Policy Alert, Mfon Gabriel took the Community on ” Contracts between Government and Extractives Companies Operating in Unyenge”, and “Beneficial Ownership, Transparency, Accountability and Implementation of the PIA”.
