In furtherance of its recent decision to make its primary host community the first malaria-free zone in Nigeria, Africa’s foremost gas company, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has signed a just signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Agency For International Development (USAID) to make Bonny Island malaria-free.

Nigeria LNG’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Tony Attah, who disclosed this in his welcome remarks at the MoU signing ceremony, lamented that Nigeria accounts for 23% of malaria-related deaths, especially, among children less than 5 years old.

He said the deaths were unacceptable, stressing that the Nigeria LNG was not happy with the narrative, stating that the company seeks to make Bonny Island safe for residents and investors.

This development becomes imperative as the company’s Train 7 project which is about to kick-off in the area is expected to attract over 60,000 people to the island community to participate in the project.

The MoU was signed by Nigeria LNG’s MD/CEO, Tony Attah, on behalf of Nigeria LNG, while the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, signed on behalf of USAID.

According to the provisions of the MoU, the USAID will provide technical assistance to the Nigeria LNG’s led Bonny Island Malaria Elimination Project (BNYMEP) through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

BNYMEP, sponsored by Nigeria LNG, seeks to reduce the malaria burden, move the community to pre-elimination status, bring malaria-related mortality to zero, and make Bonny Island Nigeria’s first malaria-free zone.

Nigeria LNG also signed an MoU with the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the U. S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) regarding support to the HIV/AIDS Surge Project to control HIV on Bonny Island.

Attah commended the U.S. Government for the partnership with Nigeria LNG, stating that the partnership is expected to yield positive results and serve as a model for private organisations to adopt in Nigeria.

He added that the partnership was the beginning of a new dawn and a national campaign to eliminate malaria, assuring that the Nigeria LNG remains committed to its ambition on Malaria and will not rest until the goal is achieved.