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Don’t Take Laws Into Your Hands – NLNG Tells NAPO

By Confidence Biebara

Sep 16, 2022

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has advised the workers protesting against Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited under the aegis of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) to avoid resorting to self-help in pursuit of their agitation.

NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh offered this advice in a statement he personally signed titled “Disruption of Activities at the Train 7 Project Site” and sent via email to Kristina Reports on Friday, September 16, 2022.

General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Nigeria LNG, Andy Odeh

The email was in response to an enquiry by Kristina Reports over the blockade on the Access Road to its Industrial Area (IA) by the placards protesting workers of Daewoo E & C Nigeria Ltd.

“The attention of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has been brought to the disruption of activities at the NLNG Train 7 Project Site by a group known as the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO).

“NLNG advises all parties to abide by applicable law, not take matters into their own hands, and to seek resolution of any grievances through the proper channels as prescribed by law”.

Recall that on Thursday, September 15, 2022, as part of their industrial action which started on Friday, September 2, 2022, workers of Daewoo E & C Nigeria Ltd had blocked the Access Road to NLNG’s Industrial Area where its gas liquefaction plant is situated.

The protesting workers

The blockade prevented multitudes of other workers, especially, staff, vendors and visitors to NLNG and other companies from accessing their offices and other workplaces.

The industrial action led by the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) affected the Daewoo E & C Nigeria Limited’s section of the NLNG Train 7 project site in Bonny Island, Rivers State.

President General of NAPO, Harold Benstowe had told newsmen during the protest that the workers were protesting against the violation of their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, illegal deductions from their salaries and arbitrary dismissals of its members by the Management of Daewoo E & C.  

President General, National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Harold Benstowe sitting with his members on the NLNG Industrial Area (IA) Access Road during the protest.

Comrade Benstowe had demanded that the Nigeria LNG call its contractor, Daewoo Nigeria Limited to order by acceding to the demands of the workers.

The impact of the blockade was instantly felt on the business environment as aside the several workers who had to return home early in the day as well as several induction candidates who were supposed to resume work same day, the Train 7 project itself stands threatened with about 300 manhours lost to the industrial action itself.

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that several travellers utilizing the NLNG ferry service including the Rivers State Commissioner for Education Professor Prince Mmom and his entourage were also stranded as they could not access the NLNG jetty which was also affected by the blockade.

Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited is contractor to SCD JV (Saipem Chiyoda and Daewoo Joint Venture), the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor to the NLNG $10 billion Train 7 project, which is expected to add around 8 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to the NLNG plant in Bonny Island.

So far, neither Daewoo E & C Nigeria Ltd nor SCD JV has made any statement regarding the industrial crisis rocking the Train 7 project. Enquiries sent to them via calls, messages and emails to their respective mobile lines and email addresses have not been responded to.

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