December 01, (THEWILL) – The proposed BUA Refinery with a barrel per day (BPD) capacity of 200,000 located at I Eno local government area of Akwa Ibom state was reportedly sacked.
In a press release by Itid Afigh Ekid Union, signed by Obong Samuel Atang, former Chairman of Eket Local Government Area and Manfred Ekpe Esq, legal Adviser among others, the people of Ekid and Esit Eket local government areas and made available to THEWILL, it was averred that the proposed land for the refinery belongs to Ekid nation.
The release further stated that BUA Group, owners of the proposed refinery, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ibeno community on Aug. 22 with the consent of the Ekid nation, a situation which had provoke restiveness within Ekid and Ibeno communities.
“We are now ready to chase away any investors till justice is done, this is a notice to intending investors all over the World who have interest in establishing on the Akwa Ibom Atlantic Coast.
“We hereby declare that any foreign and local investors who do not recognize Eket and Esit Eket local government areas as landlords to any industry proposed for the Stubb’s Creek should pack and leave the area.
“This is a quit notice to Bua group and we shall follow up this quit notice as appropriate. On the interim, the foreign partners of Bus Refinery are hereby given notice to pull out of the partnership should the company refuse to recognize Eket and Esit Eket local government areas as landlords,” the release stated.
It called on the Akwa Ibom Governor not to allow any parts of Eket and Esit Eket territory to be ceded to any other people as rumoured during the ongoing remapping of Akwa Ibom state.
“We hereby call on His Excellency, governor of Akwa Ibom, that if the rumours are true, no part of Eket and Esit Eket territory must be ceded to any other people as this will never stand.
“We call on very strong terms that the state surveyor General and Attorney general of the state and all relevant authorities, obey court decision and orders on this land,” the release said.
It is on record that the BUA Group entered an agreement with Akwa Ibom state government on August 22, 2021, to established a 200,000-bpd capacity refinery in the state due to the huge availability of raw materials and its proximity to regional countries for exports.
About the Author
