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HomeNewsDon’t exclude Niger Delta In new plan mini LNG plants, PANDEF  warns FG,  NNPCL

Don’t exclude Niger Delta In new plan mini LNG plants, PANDEF  warns FG,  NNPCL

By Attah Ede 

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has warned the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Federal Government to immediately rescind their decisions to exclude  the Niger Delta region in the siting of the newly launched five Mini Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants.

The PANDEF’s caution was contained in a press statement released on Saturday by the organisation’s National Spokesperson, Olorogun Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini.

The socio cultural organization noted with  dismay that despite being the primary producer of Nigeria’s gas resources, the Niger Delta region has once again been sidelined in a critical economic development initiative which ordinarily would have deserved commendation.

PANDEF, while demanding an immediate review of the decision called on the Federal Government and NNPCL to take steps to ensure that Mini LNG plants are also located in the Niger Delta region. 

The statement reads, “The decision to site all five Mini LNG plants in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, while denying the Niger Delta region its rightful share of such infrastructure, is a clear act of marginalisation and economic injustice.

“These projects if equally sited in the Niger Delta region, as well deserved,   would have even more significantly boosted Nigeria’s gas industry and equally provided economic opportunities for the people of the Niger Delta 

“The region’s abandonment while new projects are being prioritized in other regions is a clear case of economic injustice,  especially against our employable youthful population. 

“This move by NNPCL not only undermines the rights of host communities in the Niger Delta but also contradicts the Federal Government’s repeated commitments to equity, fairness, and resource control for producing communities as well espoused under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“It’s on record that apart from the legacy Bonny LNG plant in Rivers State, there is no other government involved LNG plant sited in the Niger Delta region. Meanwhile, several gas projects in the region that were supposed to drive economic growth and create employment have been abandoned. These include:The Ogedegbe Gas Project in Delta State, Brass LNG in Bayelsa State and Olokola LNG in Ondo State.

“If we had strong representation in NNPC Ltd, this level of injustice and systemic denial of our economic rights would not occur. It is clear that policies affecting the Niger Delta are being made without due consideration for the interests of the region and its people.

“While we restate  our commitment to peaceful engagement, PANDEF, as the voice of the Niger Delta, we insist that the people of the Niger Delta resist through all constitutional means, any attempt to further impoverish our people while others reap the benefits of our God given resources.”

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