The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have picketed the gas liquefaction plant of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in Bonny, as well as its Corporate Head Office in Amadi-Ama Community in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, both in Rivers State.

Kristina Reports also reliably learnt that the PENGASSAN members in NLNG also shut down the company’s offices in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

As early as 5am, the Industrial Area, Administrative Building and other facilities were shutdown by the PENGASSAN members except the Train 7 project site.

They protesting workers also turned back staff of other companies providing various ancillary services to the NLNG in Bonny, except those on essential services.

Curiously, the protesters could not explain why they were protesting and shutting down the multimillion dollar facility.

When asked by Kristina Reports, some of the workers responded, albeit, off records, that it was an internal matter between them and the company’s management.

One of the unionists, who only identified himself as Caleb, said off record “it’s not much, though. It has to do with some benefits we’re supposed to get which management has refused to give us. So, this is like pressuring them to grant it.

“For instance, we want salary increase. There is also this 100 days stuff we have been denied for long now. In fact, basically, working conditions aren’t favourable and we need a change.”  

Efforts by Kristina Reports to have the NLNG respond to the development was yet unsuccessful as an enquiry sent via email to the company was yet to be responded to as at the time of this report.

It is estimated that the country could potentially lose as much as $100 million due to the industrial action by PENGASSAN.

With the NLNG plant in Bonny being a major source of revenue for the country, with the government through NNPC Limited holding a 49% stake in the company, shutting down the plant for a day could lead to a significant loss in gas production and export revenue.

Experts also project that the shutdown could undermine the government’s plan to securitize approximately $7 billion of NLNG dividends, which could affect efforts to boost foreign currency liquidity and strengthen foreign exchange.

According to them, the loss of revenue from NLNG, a major source of income, could negatively impact the Nigerian economy as a whole, potentially causing problems for industries that rely on gas supplies.