In line with its avowed corporate responsibility, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) says it was taking necessary precautions to protect its staff, their families and members of its host communities from the corona virus pandemic.

The company also debunked rumours that it was shutting down its operations due to the pandemic.

The Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Sophia Horsfall disclosed this in response to Kristina Reports enquiries over the trending rumours that it was closing shop as a measure against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Business and operations remain normal across NLNG company locations. However, guided by its Crisis Response Framework, we have taken precautionary measures such as Social Distancing, to protect staff, their families and people in our host communities.”

Recently, there have been concerns over exposure to its facilities due to the number of expatriates working on its operations in Abuja, Bonny, Lagos and Port Harcourt with some concerned individuals asking questions as to the strictness of enforcement of screening against the virus at its facilities across the country.  

But Kristina Reports checks at its plant in Bonny, Rivers State, showed that there were measures put in place to assure the safety of its staff and visitors.

For instance, at its jetties in Bonny and Amadiama in Port Harcourt, medical personnel were sighted screening travelers arriving or departing through its facilities. Same was witnessed at the Finima Airstrip, Bonny and the arrival/departure lounges of Donnier Aviation, operators of flight services for staff and visitors, in Abuja, Bonny, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Across its offices at its corporate head office in Port Harcourt, its plant in Bonny, and offices in Abuja and Lagos, hand washing facilities and hand sanitizers were provided and their use enforced for both staff and visitors.

Horsfall further informed that the company will continue monitoring the situation across the country, assessing the impact on its operations and decide on the best measures to safeguard its staff, their families, and stakeholders.

“Nigeria LNG will continue to assess and manage impact on its operations, health and safety of all concerned.”

As the viciousness of the pandemic rages across the globe with Italy being the hardest hit with about 6,000 deaths already, different countries are taking hard measures to contain the spread of the virus.

These measures include shutting down international flights in and out of the country, public mass transit systems, public gatherings, and enforcing a total lockdown with citizens being urged to stay home.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) earlier today confirmed that the country now had 40 confirmed cases, 33 active cases, two discharged and one casualty, a 61 year old former Managing Director of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC, Suleiman Achimugu.

Various states across the country have also gone bullish on securing their domains against the spread of the virus. Rivers State Governor today shut down all public gatherings, public parks, night clubs, cinemas, public funerals and weddings, and open religious worship.