A glimmer of hope appears to be in the horizon for projects captured under corporate social responsibility for the Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in Bonny, Rivers State.

The projects are a Vehicular Terminal; 5,000 Capacity Stadium and a Sports Academy; and expansion of the Shell Road, Mission Road and King William Dappa Pepple Road up to Coal Beach; as well as Court Road up to the King Perekule Palace.

On the Finima Axis, there is the reconstruction of the New Finima Road, phase one of which is currently been executed by Evomec Global Services Nigeria Limited; the Ajaokolo Access Road, Light House Link Road Project, Abariko and Akusughu Road Projects.

The inspection tour had teams from the NLNG, Finima Development Committee (FDC), Julius Berger Plc, SCD JV (Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo Joint Venture), Train 7 management team, and Train 7 vendors, among others.

Recall that the Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC), NLNG and SCD JV had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation of the CSR projects attached to the Train 7 project back in 2023.

Also recall that the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru had during his visit to 146 Battalion, Nigerian Army in Bonny, Rivers State on Tuesday, October 10, 2024 directed the Train 7 management team to expedite action on the Train 7 CSR projects and provide him ongoing feedbacks.

The Minister gave the directive after he was briefed by the Commanding Officer, 146 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Oyemade Oyewumi on complaints by Bonny Kingdom that the Train 7 CSR projects were not being implemented as agreed.

The projects captured under corporate social responsibility (CSR) for the Train 7 project are envisaged as value addition to the development profile of Bonny Island as a dividend of the project.

Though adjudged as very belated given that, according to the project owners, the NLNG, the Train 7 project has done 70% completion, today’s inspection of the various project areas flickers hope of implementation of the projects in the days ahead.