The Chairman of Ibeno local government in Akwa Ibom Tuesday urged the management of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) to take urgent steps in bringing relief to the spill impacted community in the interest of peace.

MPN, an affiliate of a US energy firm, ExxonMobil had in a statement admitted an oil spill incident discharged some 200 barrels of crude oil into the Atlantic coastline on November 9.

The oil spill had contaminated the waters and landed along the Atlantic coastline in Ibeno fishing settlements. Mr Henry Nko, Chairman of Ibeno local government, said on Tuesday that the oil spill had adversely affected the fishing community.

He said that fishermen in the area were compelled to suspend fishing operations to avoid catching contaminated fish which could pose a threat to public health, explaining that the development had led to abject poverty in the area as the peasant fishermen has called for immediate relief materials to cushion their plight.

"The entire Ibeno people have been in a very sober mood because the source of their livelihood has been grossly affected by the oil spill.