Group of youths drawn from parts of Niger Delta Region have
threatened to shot down Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, Company’s
operation, especially in Rivers State over the recent siting of the Dry-dock at
Badagry lagos.
Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the spokesman of the
youth group under the aegis of Niger-Delta Youths for Progress, Barrister
Simeon Wilcox said it was wrong for NLNG to abandon the region where it had its
base to site a project that would liberate the youths in the region to another
location.
Wilcox said NLNG failed to consider the people who bear the
consequence of pollution arising from flared gas, environmental degradation and
vessel wave action resulting to fishermen loosing their only source of livelihood.
The spokesman also called on the federal and the state
government, including all security agencies to intervene on what he described
as important matter in other to avert situations where youths of the state will
be left with no choice than to take to the street in protest.
According to the group, “Our initial grievance was
predicated on the fact that NLNG decided against all odds to construct a
dry-dock worth $1.5 billion US dollars in the area outside its operational base
and region.
“The decision was seen as a clear case of insensitive and
provocative corporate decision by NLNG following its failure to consider the
colossal unemployment rate inherent in Niger delta, rivers state and more
especially in Bonny Kingdom where the livewire of the company is domicile.
“One had imagined that promoters of this noble project would
consider the advantage of closeness to raw materials and a conducive harbor
location in the host state.
“In view of the foregoing, the youths in Rivers state and
the Niger-Delta youths in general have decided to mobilize the teaming youths
to stage a huge protest across every NLNG operational community until they
officially address the youths of Rivers state and the entire Niger-Delta on the
company’s true position concerning the location of the dry-dock
“The youths of the Niger-Delta can no longer wallow in
poverty and brazen unemployment in the midst of plenty while citing of
strategic industries that will add value and elevate our sufferings will be
taken outside.”
Also speaking at the meeting, the national secretary of Iyaw
youth Council, Bristol-Alagbariya Emmanuel accused the company of carrying out
feasibility study without the knowledge of the stakeholders from Rivers state
and Niger Delta at large.
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