Amaechi Damns NLNG Action

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has condemned the discriminatory operational regulations of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company at its Port Harcourt and Bonny Jetties, describing it as an international embarrassment to the people of the state.

Governor Amaechi. who said this, Saturday, at a luncheon for delegates to the 40th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting in Port Harcourt said it was unethical to carry out discriminatory operations on the jetties as a cover for its security concerns for the company

He apologised to the delegates, who were expected to embark on a scheduled tour of Bonny Island from the NLNG ‘s Eastern Bye Pass Jetty, but were turned back because of NLNG policy of White/Black jetty and wondered why a world class organisation could cover up such lapses.

“We are sorry over the incident and promise that we will conduct an integrity test on the jetty to ascertain why the company is being selective on those that will use the jetty”, he said.

According to the governor, there was no justification in the “policies that white people should be flown to the site and black people will go by sea”.

The governor also said that in taking the decision the company did not take into cognizance the . security implication of endangering the lives of some people while preserving others.

He also called on members of the public who may be affected by the closure of the facilities to bear with the state government as urgent measures were being taken to salvage the situation.

Responding on behalf of the parliamentarians, the leader of the South African Delegation. RT. Hon. Linhiwe Maseko, Speaker Geuteng Parliament, South Africa, thanked Governor Amaechi for responding swiftly to the embarrassing situation.

“We are proud of you because you have given us our pride. All the delegates that are participating in this meeting are black and white, and we were wondering why this had to happen on Nelson Mandela’s birthday”, she said.

The Parliamentarians who later led all delegates and the Government to chant the happy birthday song for Nelson Mandela, said in compliance to their national call, Parliamentarians from South Africa had to do a 67 minute work for the people of Rivers State to commemorate the 67 years Mandela spent in political activitism