NLNG Apologises Over Discrimination On Coy’s Jetties

The management of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company, on Monday apologised for the embarrassment caused commonwealth parliamentarians and the people of Rivers State last Saturday.

NLNG’s action came as black and white parliamentarians, who were to visit the company’s base on Bonny Island, were discriminated against.

The firm’s management insisted that the whites should be flown to the site in choppers, while the blacks must travel by sea.

The management of the NLNG gave the excuse that the jetties were considered unsafe for whites who might be kidnapped by militants.

Immediately after the embarrassing incident, the black parliamentarians refused to travel by boat and moved to the government house, Port Harcourt to express their displeasure.

The incident had led to the immediate and indefinite closure of the firm’s jetties on Bonny Island and Port Harcourt by Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

The company stated that the policy was to ensure that everyone-employees, members of the host communities, vendors and visitors travels in safety.

The NLNG’s Manager Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Mr Ifeanyi Mbanefor told The Tide’s source that the embarrassment the policy might have caused was deeply regretted.

The firm stated that the visit of the parliamentarians to Bonny was aborted owing to misunderstanding of its transportation policy.

The company stated that the guideline put in place before the current regime was capable of being misunderstood, especially when read against the background of the present efforts of Governor Amaechi to provide a conducive atmosphere for all who live and do business in Rivers State.

It said, “The Nigeria NLNG Limited apologizes to the governor, the people of the entire state and especially the commonwealth parliamentarians, for any misunderstanding arising from the application of this policy. The embarrassment this may have caused everyone is deeply regretted.

NLNG Limited, a Nigerian Compnay and a proud citizen of Rivers State, with deep rooted and excellent relationship on Bonny Island and its over 110 contiguous pipeline communities in Rivers State, considers itself a partner in progress with the government and would not bring the people and leadership of this great state to disrepute.

Rivers government said it placed equal value on all lives, regardless of colour, race or creed, and would not be a party to any form of discrimination against any person or foreign national in the state, as a result of colour, race or creed.

The state government declared that anybody caught violating the closure order would be dealth with in accordance with the provision of the law.

The governor then apologized to the delegates who were expected to embark on a scheduled tour of Bonny Island from the NLNG’s Eastern ByPass Jetty, but were turned back because of the firm’s policy.

He promised that his administration would conduct integrity test on the jetties, to ascertain why the company was being selective on those that would use its facilities.

However, the acting Chief Press Secretary to the governor Mr Blessing Wikina, has said that the state has not received any apology from NLNG.

He said “a Press Statement from NLNG is not an apology, the management of NLNG should know what to do”.

Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva and his wife, Alanyingi, having a tet-a-tet at a public function in Yenagoa, the state capital.