West Africa’s foremost gas firm, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) says it will sustain its cordial relations with host communities of it operational areas as well the sustainable development of such communities.   

NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh said this in a statement on Monday, September 18, 2023 in reaction to a recent judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on the status of Finima Community where its gas liquefaction and export plant is located.

“Nigeria LNG remains focused on ensuring cordial relationship with its host communities and remains committed to sustainable community development, peace in its areas of operation as it continues to be a to globally competitive LNG company helping to build a better Nigeria.”

In the statement tagged “Community Court Case”, Odeh acknowledged that his company is aware of the Federal High Court’s judgment on a case brought by the Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima seeking the court’s interpretation in matters relating to host communities and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) is aware of a judgement by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a case brought by the Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima against Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), seeking the court’s interpretation in matters relating to host communities and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).”

It stated that the “NLNG wishes to state that its lawyers are studying the decision and will react at the appropriate time”.

The Buoye Omuso (Brown) House of Finima had brought a class action lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on behalf of Finima Community.

Finima Community in Bonny LGA of Rivers State is populated by three families cum chieftaincy houses; Attoni, Brown and Tobin, which are also part of the 35 chieftaincy houses that make up the larger Bonny Kingdom.

In the said judgment, Justice Donatus Okorowo granted all the reliefs sought by the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House, which included, primarily, recognition of Finima Community as the host community of NLNG and an order directing the gas firm, alongside the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC Limited and NCDMB to streamline its engagement with the community.

The judgment further ousted the involvement of any other party aside the host community from such engagement, asserting that all rights and privileges accruing and accruable to Finima Community on the basis of its status as host should be accorded it.