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Dry Dock: N’Delta Youth’s Protest Sparks Tension In NLNG
Fear is said to have gripped the management of multinational gas corporation, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) and her investors over a strongly worded protest letter presented by a coalition of Rivers State youth and stakeholders over the proposed location of NLNG’s dry dock.
The letter, which content made startling revelations previously unheard of, lay overwhelming credence to the fact that NLNG, in spite of its sustained denial, was actually the sponsor of the proposed dry dock project in Badagry, Lagos State.
In a nine-page letter articulately written and copied to government and strategic agencies in the country by the youth leaders representing various groups in Rivers State, stakeholders and other youth of Niger Delta under the aegis of Joint Niger Delta Youth Movement led by activist, Ann Kio-Briggs, they expressed their resolute demands for reversion of the decision, insisting that it must be sited anywhere in Niger Delta.
Also present at the civil protest to NLNG complex in Port Harcourt include; Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, National Secretary General of Ijaw Youth Council and Leader of Rivers Ijaw Youth, Engr Emmanuel Bristol Alagbariya, Leader, Bonny Youth Federation, Barr. Simeon Wilcox, among others, to express serious disappointment and regret in the non-inclusion of host communities who are critical stakeholders of NLNG projects, condemning in the process perceived as high level deceit, fabrication and deliberate intention to foist crisis in the region.
Sources in the company, who spoke under anonymity, had disclosed that there is rumble among the rank and file of NLNG management, adding that the atmosphere is tensed, especially with indications that in spite of alleged attempts by the company to incite other NLNG communities and youth against Bonny Island through a recent publication enumerating what Bonny people are benefitting from NLNG, the youth of Rivers State have remained resolute and undeterred in pressing for their demand and pursuing their joint objective over the dry dock issue.
This development, according to the source, is said to be against NLNG’s divide and rule plan to forestall further protest by youth against the planned dry dock location.
More worrisome for the company is that the protest had gone smoothly without aggression as the youth made their positions known without the usually violence associated with Niger Delta youth.
Part of the demands during the protest is to have the dry dock located in any of the Niger Delta states for the purpose of creating job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths, in addition to the demand that NLNG should organize a road show in the Niger Delta and give practical assurance to the investors that they will patronize the investors and make available all their vessels to the dry dock facility to be built in the Niger Delta.
The letter, submitted amidst tight security mounted by NLNG, neither deterred the youth and stakeholders who matched on within the NLNG premises to deliver the strongly worded letter received by one of NLNG’s key management officers.
Some contentious issues were raised in the letter which reads in parts: “It is not in dispute that you, NLNG, conceived the idea and sponsored the disputed dry dock feasibility studies, received, accepted, gave approval to the report, and indeed, mobilized banks and investors, and also organized a road show to actualize and give effect to your desired decision to site the dry dock in Lagos as pre-determined.
“It is necessary here to note that before the feasibility study and road show of Decenber 9th, 2014, organized by you, there were no foreign or local investors (company or consortium) for the dry dock, but to our chagrin, NLNG had already named the project, Badagry Ship Repair and Marine Engineering (BSME)”.
To further give credence to NLNG’s pre-determined and lopsided feasibility study, the statement gave reference to various reports, including one made available by news giant Reuters on Friday, June 19th, 2015, which was also hoisted on NLNG website captioned ‘NLNG EYES $1.5 BILLION DEBUT SHIPYARD IN NIGERIA’.
“The first paragraph aptly captured that ‘Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) is sponsoring the construction of the first major ship yard in Africa’s biggest economy at the cost of $1.5 billion, in its attempt to turn the country into a hub for maritime operations on the continent”.
Reuters went further to quote NLNG spokesman, Tony Okonedo, as corroborating statements that indicate that they are actually sponsoring the dry dock project.
Further statements to bolster claims by the youth coalition group referenced publications and strategic quotes by NLNG management on Nations, Guardian, and Sun Newspapers, among others.
The letter in part countered strongly and referred to as unsubstantiated NLNG spokesman’s claim that technical grounds like, Natural water depth; Proximity to an international airport and Proximity to an active offshore and onshore West Africa oil and gas hub were practicable parameters used to decide on siting the Dry dock in Badagry
Countering the claims the Joint Niger Delta Youth Movement stated in its letter that it is yet to come to terms on why Badagry which natural water depth of 11-12 meters was chosen ahead of Bonny island with natural water depth of 14.30 meters and the Onne/Ikpokiri which has about 15.2 meters of natural water depth.
On proximity to airport, it states that the distance between Lagos International airport and Badagry is about 68 kilometers while from Port Harcourt international airport to Onne Port is about 40 kilometers, even as Bonny Island has the advantage of a mini air strip.
Dissecting the issue of proximity to an active offshore and onshore West Africa oil and gas hub, it states “Niger delta is the most active offshore and onshore oil and gas hub in Nigeria and indeed in the whole of West Africa. Hear this: It is a global established known and accepted empirical fact that only the management of NLNG Bonny and its hired agents the Royal Haskoning DHV are disputing this very obvious fact”.
The protest organized in the most civil and intellectual manner attracted the admiration of security operatives who commended the organizational ambiance exhibited by the protesters. There was staked consensus among, Ann Kio Briggs, Sukubo Sara Igbe, Bristol Alagbariya and Simeone Wilcox and other stakeholders that NLNG’s hidden but now open agenda can never be allowed to see the light of the day, they assert that the decision if allowed to fly will be detrimental not just to the present generation of youths in the Niger delta, but to those yet unborn. While they wait on NLNG to reply the letter they are strongly maintaining a capital NO stance to siting the Drydock in Badagry.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
