The seeming inability of both the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to define the place of Finima in Bonny Local Council Area of Rivers State has continued to cause disruptions and obstruct work at the location.
On Wednesday June 25, 2024, youths and women of Finima arrived the NLNG site as early as 5am and blocked access to the site. By this, work stopped at the Train 7, but the NLNG has reacted, saying engagement was ongoing, and appealed for peaceful resolution.
The community shut down the operations of Saipem, Chiyoda, and Daewoo (SCD) JV, the companies handling the construction of the multi-billion dollars NLNG Train 7.
At the heart of the friction between the NLNG and Finima community is recognition of Finima as rightful host community in line with exanct laws. This matter has gone to court and back, but friction remains.
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The protesters being host community of trains 1-7 want the SCD JV to fully implement the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010, Community Content Guideline 2017, respect the leadership of Finima, and finally to display approved vendors list for the community.
Speaking to newsmen on the reason for their action, the chairman of Finima Youth Congress (FYC), Shedrack Brown, stated that the community decided to protest after repeated efforts including letters and contacts to make the SCD JV see reason with them on their demands through peaceful approach.
Reacting later through a statement by the NLNG signed by Charles Epelle, Acting General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, the company confirmed that a community group staged a protest at the NLNG Train 7 Project construction site on Bonny Island over the alleged marginalisation of the community’s youths by the project’s contractor, SCD Consortium.
“NLNG is aware that engagements to resolve the impasse amicably between counterparties are underway. NLNG is committed to inclusiveness in engaging with its esteemed stakeholders and calls for a peaceful resolution to perceived grievances.”
