Pungency, brevity and panache remain hallmarks of his postulations. From his time as Leader of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Gift Alex-Hart has sustained his passion for mainstreaming Bonny Kingdom’s interest, especially, those of the youths of the area. Since assuming his new role as the Chairman of the Bonny Indigenous Contractors and Suppliers Association (BICSA), Alex-Hart has worked to reinvent the association and pursue the realization of the interest of its members.

In this virtual interview with Kristina Reports Community Correspondent, Emily Igoerechinma, the BICSA Chairman x-rayed the issues around the Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) which has already gone 67%, according to the project owners. He outlined the challenges faced by the BICSA, which includes exclusion of its members from the Train 7 project, non-realization of the benefits of the project on the people of the area, amongst several others. Enjoy!  

With respect to the NLNG Train 7, to what extent has the project empowered members of the Bonny Indigenous Contractors Association?

Clearly from the agitations and complaints here and there it is clear that the implementation or any planned empowerment of the community vendors or people through contracts has fallen short of any minimum expectation, especially, when we consider the value of the present project and the earlier projects.

In terms of specifics, can you avail us data on how many of your members are on the T7 project?

We are trying to get specific data from the operators of the project, Saipem, Daewoo, BKLCCC and NCDMB. We are on it and we hope to enjoy the cooperation of the individual entities to achieve this goal. We need the approved community vendors list to achieve this.

Your Executive met with Saipem Train 7 management team, what were the take homes?

We thank the JV companies for opening their door for the engagement. Besides this, I will say it is going to be a very long road in getting things better. Every observation is simply watered down or punctured with the reminder of an existing project memorandum of understanding (PMOU).

But stakeholders are consistent and unanimous in saying that the PMOU isn’t being implemented…

As it concerns contractors, without a proper evaluation of the success of the approved community vendors list with the collaboration of operators and stakeholders, I am afraid we are simply pursuing à black goat in the middle of the dark night. A lot seems to be shrouded in secrecy. The NLNG Train 7 project being executed by the SCD JV is operated like a deep undercover secret site, unlike the past projects executed by TSKJ.

I am afraid the community and Nigerians resident in Bonny may become even poorer at the end of Train 7 project. Drugs abuse, criminality and mental depression may become more prevalent. I am afraid the community and Nigerians resident in Bonny may become even poorer at the end of Train 7 project.

So, does it appear like Saipem and the SCD JV have been capturing the interest of Bonny indigenous contractors since the T7 project started?

Obviously, few community persons are captured but when we consider the number of very known vendors that are complaining, we are afraid that the shortfalls are enormous.

NLNG is client to the SCD JV and Saipem, do you think it has done enough to compel its EPC contractors to implement local content in the interest of Bonny indigenous contractors?

I believe NLNG as usual or as a matter of policy and pre-project meeting has done that, but it remains to be seen if proper instrument to ensure success of this was put in place deliberately for the good of the majority of community vendors. Going forward, we are considering the activation of public hearing after other efforts failed to change the status quo or sad reality. This may be activated after we conclude the forthcoming Community Contractors/Vendors Roundtable.

So, Sir, what would you advise NLNG and its EPC contractors as the way forward?

As the Chairman of community contractors, I advise that, as part of needs assessment, they consider an immediate review of all standing rules to integrate or expand the vendors net to capture majority or more community vendors in the supply value chain from now to the end of the project. So many things are at stake, including, but not limited to the image of SCD JV, its client, NLNG and the living standard of Nigerians residing in Bonny.

Finally, I will want to thank specifically the Bonny Chiefs Council, the Chairman of BKLCCC, Amaopusenibo Opuada Willie-Pepple and the Chairman of the BKLCCC Monitoring Taskforce, Elder Olam Brown for the co-operation we have received, so far.