A coalition of young intellectuals and technocrats in Nigeria, the Initiative for Youth Empowerment and Welfare Creation say the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 project has called on stakeholders to ensure an enabling environment for the project to thrive as the project will increase Nigeria’s LNG potentials.

The group, which made this call in a statement signed by its Director, Abiye George and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Phreedom Kodam and made available to newsmen, was reacting to the recent Final Investment Decision (FID) taken by NLNG’s shareholders in Abuja on Friday.

It expressed profound gratitude to all critical stakeholders and players in the signing of the Final Investment Decision for the NLNG Train 7 project.

“As you know the final investment decision on the Train 7 processing unit at the Bonny Island plant was signed by Nigeria LNG partners state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Eni, Total and Royal Dutch Shell yesterday in Abuja.”

“We acknowledge the signing of the FID as a leadway for the execution of the project in actualizing the plan to building Train 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, which we hope will increase the nation’s LNG potentials.

“The Train 7 project has the tendency of increasing NLNG capacity by 35% with a $20billion revenue and creating over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs for the youths of the nation.”

“We call on the JV’s to partner with the youth groups, chiefs and all critical stakeholders to ensure a harmonious environment for the project.”

“Also, we call on young men and women in the region to embrace this opportunity and to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the project.”

“Providing them with working environment that will allow them to deliver the project as at when due, In line with the Federal government quest to create 100 million jobs considering local content skill capacity development.”

The Initiative for Youth Empowerment and Welfare Creation, however, demanded that the oil and gas sector players mainstream issues affecting the youths such as human capital development, job creation, entrepreneurial development and youth empowerment.

“Above all, we demand that operators in the sector bring the development and empowerment of the youth to the centre of their operations.

“Today, young people in the region face high unemployment rates and a prevalent sense of disenfranchisement, we hope that the coming on stream of this project will be used to curb this trend and to promote access to labour force amongst the youth.”

The group promised to continue play key roles in enlightening and empowering the youths with the needed awareness, pursue partnerships and collaborations that will engender multifarious benefits to the youths, amongst others.

“You can count on us to continue to pioneer a future where youths are given the sense of enfranchisement that they deserve. Our organization is one that truly can work with organizations to ensure that you understand the environment that stifles development. Together we can ensure peace, prosperity, opportunity and dignity for all doing business in the region.”