There appears to be some setback to the successful completion of the Akusuugh Shopping Mall project, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), in the Akusuughu area of Finima in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
This indication arose on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 when some indigenes of Finima Community protested at the project site, alleging that the project was encroaching on their private property.
In separate interviews with Kristina Reports at the project site on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, the protesters insisted that the project sponsor, Nigeria LNG, and its contractor, 4Laz Integrated Services Ltd, did not consult them or have any form of engagement with them before accessing the land, which was their private property.
One of them, a former Youth Leader of Konibo-ye-Awanta (Tobin) House of Finima, Idamina Tobin told Kristina Reports that he was not aware of the allocation of the land to the Nigeria LNG for the project.
He stated that he was not consulted or engaged in any way by the Nigeria LNG or its contractor, 4Laz Integrated Services Ltd, regarding aspects of the project that is encroaching on his private property, saying that when he got to know of the development, he incidented the matter at the Finima Police Station.
“I am saying that my own property is being encroached on already. I observed machines working on this parcel of land and I had to accost them, asking them what they were doing; they said they want to clear the place. Immediately I went to the Finima police station to incident the matter.”
“When they called those that were doing the job, they said it is a shopping mall for the community. It is not to our knowledge. Nobody told anybody anything.”
He informed that the Divisional Police Officer of Finima Division, Bashir Majidadi, and the Local Government Security Officer, Bonny Division, Collins Eche intervened to resolve the issue, saying he was surprised to still see the encroachment fledging on.
“The DPO then invited the persons involved, as in those working on site, one Humphrey Brown is the CLO; he was called, I was there, the DSS boss, Mr. Collins was there. Other persons too came because we observed that it wasn’t just my own parcel of land. It went far into other areas. People who have their properties here also came. The DPO had to collate documents of allotment from our various houses.”
“We called the surveyor to explain what was happening here. The surveyor came and said actually they want to build a shopping mall but the land mass they intend using did not include into our land apart from this kiosk that is here. Of which they told me it would be moved after the project. The DPO was here and the DSS boss. We agreed on that and then we left.”
Another Finima indigene, Christian Tobin, also told Kristina Reports that alleged that his land was being encroached upon, stating that the right path to take in the circumstance was for the NLNG and its contractor to engage with the land owners before embarking on the project.
“What we are talking about is that there should be an engagement. If NLNG wants to use my property, I should be aware. NLNG did not tell me anything, I am not aware. I just came one day and saw people pushing down my trees, even my blocks are scattered.”
“My land is behind that signpost, they did not tell us. My elder brother has property there too that they did not tell him. So, it is not right.”
“Our lawyers have written to NLNG and NLNG said they are not tampering with our lands; that they want to make use of this other one.”
Also, Williams Tobin, another aggrieved indigene, said his property was affected by the project, but asserted that he was neither aware nor involved in any negotiations regarding the Akusuugh project, stressing that he would employ lawful means to assert his rights.
“Obviously, my property is affected by this project. I am not part of any negotiations neither am I aware of any such ongoing negotiation that has gone and concluded for them to start encroaching on my own private property. I have no clue or knowledge about that.”
When contacted on the impasse, Chairman of Konibo-ye-Awanta (Tobin) House of Finima, Dagogo Tobin confirmed that the said landed properties belong to members of his house, stating that they were properly allotted the said lands by the House.
“Yes, of course. Plots of land was allotted to members of the House by our late Chief.”
He denied any knowledge of consultation or engagements with the Nigeria LNG, stressing that “the NLNG did not contact the Tobin house before embarking on the project on that stretch of land, not at all.”
He stated that when the Tobin House was contacted on the development, he personally reached the Manager, Community Relations and Sustainable Development, Nigeria LNG on the issue but the issue was still lingering.
“I spoke last year with (Godson) Dienye, NLNG Community Relations Manager, concerning the issue. Tobin House was never consulted by NLNG or any other person. And yes, it’s very correct that Idamina incidented the matter at the Finima police station.”
Efforts by Kristina Reports to have a response from the Nigeria LNG on the issue was yet unsuccessful as an email enquiry to that effect was yet to be replied.
Meanwhile, a highly placed official of the company, who spoke anonymously as she was not authorized to speak on the matter, dismissed the issue, saying the Nigeria LNG was not complicit in the issue as the company made the right consultations before embarking on the project.
She clarified that the project was a CSR project associated with the construction of the Finima Airstrip and intended to avail the Finima Community a modern shopping complex for residents to do business, adding that it was the Finima Community that allocated the land for the project and if anyone was aggrieved they should engage their community leadership.
When contacted, Chairman of Asawo of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House of Finima, Tammy Brown confirmed that the land for the project was actually allocated to the Nigeria LNG for project with a survey done thereafter, stressing that it was tied to the airstrip project.
Checks with the Police in Finima confirmed that the process of an amicable resolution of the matter was ongoing with a stakeholders driven meeting fixed for Monday, April 5, 2021.
To my knowledge, broad based engagement is part of NLNG’s DNA, particularly relating to community issues. So a bit surprised that this has come up. Allegations of non engagement and encroachment can and should be resolved via peaceful dialogue involving relevant parties. Good to note though that project being referenced is one with potential to strengthen the communities and make them economically stable and sustainable.