In the face of growing concerns over the rapid increase in the transmission of the novel coronavirus and unexplained deaths happening in its primary host community, Bonny Local Government Area, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) says it shares the concerns and was working with relevant stakeholders to fight the pandemic.

The company said this via an email response to Kristina Reports enquiry about alleged unfortunate developments at its newly built isolation centre at its Residential Area in Finima, Bonny.

Nigeria LNG, in the email signed by its Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Sophia Horsfall, explained that contrary to insinuations, its donation of about N1 billion to the Rivers State and Bonny Local Governments was meant to bolster the fight against COVID-19 and a demonstration of responsibility on its part as a good corporate citizen.  

“As part of its comprehensive response, NLNG as a responsible corporate citizen, made donations to the tune of N1 billion to Bonny community and Rivers state.

“Our intervention included Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), ventilators and vehicle donations, a 10-bed holding centre in Bonny and facility upgrade at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).”

Reacting to the alleged donation of cash by the company to the Bonny Local Government, the Chairman of the LGA, David Irimagha told Kristina Reports that he was not aware of any such donation, stressing that the company only supported the State Government with the upgrade of health facilities including the Isolation Centre at the General Hospital, Bonny, and purchase of medical equipment.

He stated that no cash donations exchanged hands between the Bonny Local Government Council and the Nigeria LNG.

The statement from the company added that the Nigeria LNG will continue to monitor the pandemic with a view to protecting its staff, workplaces and stakeholders while providing needed support where necessary to the relevant authorities and institutions on the go.

“NLNG will continue to monitor the pandemic, with proactive strategies for protecting our workplaces and stakeholders.  Our company will continue to offer support and guidance during this global health crisis.”

After the two index cases recorded from samples taken for testing in May, Bonny LGA is said to now have 20 new recorded positive cases of COVID-19 from about 70 samples taken from the area recently.

This was disclosed by the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Professor Princewill Chike at a meeting between the State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI, Chairman of Bonny LGA, David Irimagha, and other political and traditional leaders of Bonny LGA at Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.

The company reputed to be Nigeria’s foremost gas company denied running a policy of concealment with regards to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, disclosing that it was working in close collaboration with the relevant federal and state health authorities to fight the ravaging pandemic that has engendered a global health crisis.

“NLNG is NOT operating a deliberate policy of concealment of the COVID-19 cases in its plant and residential area as alleged. The Company has been in collaboration with Federal and State Government health authorities at the frontlines of the fight against the Pandemic.”

The company also debunked insinuations that an operational trip at its plant in Bonny Island on May 14, 2020 was responsible for the unexplained deaths and widespread complaints of loss of smell and loss of taste by residents of the area.

It also dismissed claims in some quarters that the company’s donations in support of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to both the Rivers State and Bonny Local Governments were actually meant to induce the relevant authorities from investigating the issues surrounding the plant failure.

The company’s statement categorically stated that the said donations were done prior to the operational trip at its plant and could not have been linked to an incident that was yet to happen as at the time of the said donations.

“NLNG categorically refutes any insinuation that it is concealing facts related to the trip. Relevant authorities and stakeholders were informed of the incident as part of its defined protocol for managing such occurrences. Our donations predates any trips.”

“The trip at our plant which resulted in temporary loss of electricity for about two hours at our Residential Area and parts of our host community, Bonny, caused no injury to anyone or damage to the environment.”

“Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has a sound Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) policy anchored on proper care for the health and safety of its employees and that of its host community and other stakeholders as well as proper regard for the sustainable management of the environment.”

“Our robust HSE Management System has always ensured no harm to people and no damage to the environment as we operate with the highest levels of safety.”  

Bonny LGA, where the Nigeria LNG plant is located and where its planned plant expansion project, Train 7 is billed to commence soon, has gained undue visibility lately due to incidences of unexplained deaths and widespread complaints of symptoms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has led to the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, upon advice from the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike, to consider implementing a lockdown on the area to checkmate further community spread of the disease in the area.

As at the time of this report, modalities were currently being worked between the State and Local Government and the traditional institution in the area to address the security, economic, health and social issues associated with the planned lockdown.