The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has called on communities around its areas of operations to take advantage of the various platforms it was creating to drive their own development.

NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Eyono Fatayi-Williams made this call today during the launching of the Global Memoranda of Understanding (GMoU) with Gas Transmission System (GTS) clusters made up of communities at its Corporate Head Office (CHO), Amadi-Ama in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“Today, we are here to launch Phase1 of Global Memoranda of Understanding (GMoU) with 3 clusters. The communities covered by the first phase of GMoU are Ogbum-nu-Abali, Ubeta, and Rumuji.”

“As we officially launch this five-year GMoU, which has been designed to provide a governance and implementation framework for community development, we expect that the stakeholders in these communities will take ownership and sustainably drive their community’s development through their respective Community Development Foundation that consist of Board of Trustees and Steering Committees.”

She disclosed that the GMoU will be funded through annual remittances, noting that the move was in line with its avowed vision of helping to build a better Nigeria, explaining that it would afford the beneficiary communities the leverage to decide projects unique to their specific needs.

“As noted above, Nigeria LNG will fund the GMoU through annual remittances in line with our vision of ‘being a global LNG Company helping to build a better Nigeria’.”

“This GMoU will give communities leverage over developmental projects unique to their needs and will contribute to improving the socio-economic life of the citizens.”

The GM External Relations and Sustainable Development pointed out that the Nigeria LNG, in its two decades of operations has continued to earn the goodwill of its host communities and stakeholders by sustained prioritization of the happiness of its hosts and environmental sustainability.  

“Our sustained cordial relationship with you in the past two decades since Nigeria LNG commenced operation demonstrates the depth of the goodwill that define our interaction.”

Nigeria LNG is a responsible and reputable corporate organisation. We have lived up to every commitment we have made to you as our critical stakeholders, and we will continue to do so in good faith.”

“We have also built a strong reputation as a global supplier of LNG, and we do so with utmost integrity, reliability, and excellent international practices.”

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“The benefit for you as our stakeholders is that you have a global brand to be proud of. Still, more importantly, the benefit of our business’ success is that we continue to remain socially responsible for your well-being as much as we can.”

“We have contributed significantly to engender a society where residents are happy and the environment is healthy for our operations to thrive.”

“A case in point is our donation of the palliatives that we donated to residents of these communities during the Coronavirus pandemic.”

Speaking at the occasion, the Rivers State Commissioner of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Sam Ejekwu, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ndu Alawari, commended the Nigeria LNG and the beneficiary communities for peacefully agreeing to the GMoU.

Ejekwu stated that the GMoU was in the right direction for the development of communities in the state, describing the GMoU as a partnership between the company and the government in the drive towards sustainable development.

Also speaking, Traditional Ruler of one of the communities, the Eze Mbam Abali, Eze Rishi Ohia XII of Rebisi Kingdom, HRH Eze Christopher N. Wonodi, JP, said “on behalf of the community clusters, I express gratitude to the Nigeria LNG for this GMoU”.  

“We have been hearing of the good things Nigeria LNG is doing in developmental support ranging from provision of basic amenities and human capital development which we need right now. We pledge support for the GMoU to achieve the gains of this relationship.”

The event ended with the swearing-in of members of the respective foundations for Ogbum-nu-Abali,  Ubeta and Rumuji.