Stop NLNG amendment move, Wike tells FG

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has asked the Federal Government to stop the ongoing debates in the National Assembly towards amending the laws setting up the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) situated in Bonny, Rivers State.
The governor vowed to defend the economy of the state and that of the Niger Delta, saying the state government would join forces with other governors of the zone to stop the amendment of NLNG Limited Bill.
The governor also stated that agitations in the South-South haD remained rife because the authorities ignoreD the geo-political zone, even though the people produce the wealth sustaining the nation.
Speaking on Tuesday night at the Government House Port Harcourt during a courtesy visit by the management of the NLNG Limited, Wike said the state government would mobilise the state’s representatives at the National Assembly to ensure that the NLNG Limited remained in good stead to continue with her operations.
He urged the Federal Government not to allow the amendment of the NLNG Act to sail through at the National Assembly because of the negative multiplier effect it would on the economy.
He said: “Anything that will affect the economy of Rivers State, we will always fight it. It is about Rivers State,” and commended the management of the NLNG for offering to partner the Federal Government to construct the all-important Bodo-Bonny bridge.
“I thank you for the Bodo-Bonny bridge. I hope it is not political. I have always advocated for this important bridge. I thank the NLNG for telling the Federal Government that they are willing to put down money for the construction of the bridge,” the governor said.
He pointed out that the people of the South-South geo-political zone always agitate for better investment of their resources in their respective communities because of the neglect they continue to suffer.
He said: “A big company like NLNG Limited generates funds for the country, yet the Bodo-Bonny bridge that will create access to Bonny has not been constructed.”
The governor regretted that the focus of the Federal Government was on the major ethnic groups, saying that because the Hausas and Igbos were involved in conflict, a national meeting had been called.
“When it is South-South, Nigeria never called a meeting. But because Arewa has given a quit notice to Igbos and Igbos have replied, now we are to sit down and talk. But when the problem was here, nobody said sit down and let’s talk about these people’s problems. Those who are causing this crisis are those who refuse to listen to the yearnings and cries of the people,” the governor.
He charged the management of the NLNG Limited to bring the construction of the Ship Building Dockyard to the state for the improvement of the economy of Rivers State.
The governor also called on the NLNG Limited to act on the agreement it entered with the Rivers State government for the rehabilitation of schools with the sum of N4 billion.
Earlier, the managing director of NLNG Limited, Tony Attah, appealed to the Rivers State government to work with other stakeholders to ensure that the NLNG Limited bill is not amended, as it will negatively affect the operation of the company in the international stage.
He said that the NLNG Limited is operating six trains, which generate more than 20 million tones which makes it the fourth in the global ranking of LNGs. He added that the NLNG Limited is building trains 7 and 8, which would take the capacity of the NLNG to 30million tones and make it third in the world.
He said: “I must say that the train 7 and 8 which will be in Rivers State have the potential to bring more than 18,000 jobs into the state with up to $20billion investments once we take the final decision “.
He said the amendment of the NLNG Limited Act would lead to loss of international confidence, which have negative effect on the economy.
“It will be most unfortunate. We believe that if this bill is amended, it will not be good for NLNG, it will not be good for Rivers State and it will not be good the oil and gas industry,” he said.