Nigeria, Sept. 11 -- Residents of oil-bearing communities in Ikono and Ibiono Ibom local government areas of Akwa Ibom State have called for urgent assessment, remediation and protection of abandoned oil wells and other ageing petroleum infrastructure, saying decades of neglect have exposed their livelihoods and environment to pollution.

The residents made the demand on Wednesday during a community dialogue organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) at Ikot Enua, Ikono LGA, where participants shared accounts of oil pollution, declining agricultural yields, damaged ecosystems and alleged illegal activities around abandoned oil facilities.

HOMEF said the dialogue was convened to enable communities to identify environmental...