First it was Saipem Fabricating Plant at Rumuolumeni in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, now it is Daewoo Galvanizing Plant at Abam-Ama in Okrika Local Government Area, both of Rivers State, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) appears to have left its host, Bonny Island behind.

This indication seems apparent Friday, August 16, 2024 as the NLNG and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) commissioned the plant in Abam-Ama, Okrika in Rivers State.

The NLNG said on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, August 17, 2024 that the facility marked a significant milestone in its efforts and those of the NCDMB in building local capacity in the country.

According to the NLNG, the plant was established by one of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors for its Train 7 Project in Bonny Island, Rivers State, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN).

Curiously, the same NLNG signed a memorandum of understanding with Bonny Kingdom, which it claims as its host, to deliver three projects captured under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) for its Train 7 project.

These includes a vehicular terminal, mini stadium and expand the King Perekule Road axis of the Bodo-Bonny Road all the way to the Coal Beach.

So far, Kristina Reports can confirm that none of these projects has seen the light of day.

The NLNG on its X (formerly Twitter) handle further revealed that DECN built it as a capacity development intervention for the Train 7 project, that will enhance Nigeria’s manufacturing capabilities and contribute to the growth of the oil and gas sector.

The plant was commissioned by NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, and NLNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, who was represented by NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh.  

The statement further disclosed that the facility has the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of galvanized steel annually.  

Reacting to this development, a key stakeholder in Bonny Kingdom, who preferred anonymity, opined that “see, the BKDC can’t make this guys do anything for Bonny. You may wonder why. Check where they do things; it’s either where there appears to be the prospect of violence or an opportunity to please the Federal Government”.

“Recall that sometime ago, two communities blocked their river, preventing their ferries from accessing their jetty in Port Harcourt. What happened that the communities suddenly became quiet? Go and ask the communities what happened…”

“Bonny Kingdom does not have the capacity to make trouble, so, nothing for them. What’s the highest that will happen? Youths will block the road, chiefs will call them to go home and that’s the end. If anyone is still hoping for NLNG to do anything in Bonny as per CSR, the person can continue to be day dreaming.”

Aside the non-implementation of the agreed CSR projects, there have been multiple controversies surrounding the Train 7 project itself.

So far, multiple protests have been witnessed at the Train 7 project site. These include those by the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Finima Community, Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), youths of Jumbo Major House, and Ijaw Youth Council, amongst others. 

According to the agitators, these protests were against alleged breach of workers’ right to join unions of their choice; unfair remuneration, alleged highhandedness of EPC contractors, alleged denial of employment opportunities to indigenes and residents, alleged arbitrary sack of indigenes for trumped up allegations, etc.

Recently, some women working for Saipem alleged on social media that a certain security coordinator (name withheld) desecrated the ladies changing room at the T7 Workers Camp by invading it while many of them were stack naked and stood to watch them dress up, boasting that nothing would happen.

So far, Kristina Reports checks reveal that no disciplinary action has been taken by the management of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited against the said security coordinator.

Concerned watchers say the company’s attitude highlights clearly the company’s utter disregard for Nigerian laws and the constitutional right of those female workers to dignity of the human person, which is effectively captured in the Nigerian Constitution and other global rights protection instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.

Kristina Reports could not ascertain as at the time of this report, if the said incident has been queried by Saipem’s client, the Nigeria LNG, which has consistently mouthed its respect for global best practices, constitutional rights of its workers and its aversion to human rights violation.