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FG’s Inaction Threatens $37bn LNG Projects
The Federal Government has been accused of undermining the take-off of the $12 billion Nigeria LNG’s Train 7, $10 billion Olokola LNG and the $15 billion Brass LNG projects.
A business intelligent firm, Oxford Business Group, had in a recent report estimated the total cost of the three LNG projects at $37 billion, and experts had expressed worry that continuous political interference from the Federal Government would further jeopardise these projects.
Though the $12 billion NLNG Train 7 project is considered as the most economical of all the three LNG investments, sources identified government interest in Brass NLNG located in Bayelsa State as the factor delaying the entire $37 billion LNG projects.
The Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, owns 49 per cent each in NLNG and Brass LNG, and experts have said the President Goodluck Jonathan-administration might be more disposed to having Brass LNG take off before NLNG’s seventh train.
The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, had recently said $10 billion had been lost to the delay in reaching a final investment decision for the train seven project.
When completed, he said the seventh train would enable the company to add some eight million metric tonnes to its current production capacity and increase annual output to 30 million metric tonnes.
He said, “The Train 7 is potentially capable of mopping up and exporting some more of the currently flared gas, and yielding an estimated $2.5 billion in revenues.
“On balance, it is clear to us at NLNG that Train 7 is an enterprise which all shareholders and stakeholders should support and pursue with vigour, for the simple reason that its outcome will be good for Nigeria and for our business,” he said.
The NLNG boss, however, did not give specific details as to when the FID for the seventh NLNG train would be taken.
NLNG is jointly owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 per cent), Shell (25.6 per cent), Total LNG Nigeria Ltd (15 per cent) and Eni (10.4 per cent).
Backed by NNPC (49 per cent), Agip/ENI (17 per cent), Total (17 per cent) and ConocoPhillips (17 per cent), the $15 billion Brass LNG facility was planned to consist two trains with a capacity of 5.5m tonnes per year (with an additional two-train option).
The FID on the Brass LNG project suffered major setbacks when ConocoPhillips, in 2013, announced the intention to divest its Nigerian assets.
“As a result, Brass LNG is now seeking third-party investors to take on the remaining 17 per cent stake” OBG said.
The source said, “With the exit of ConocoPhillips from the Brass LNG project, it has been challenging finding who will replace ConocoPhillips and take over its shareholding. The shareholding of ConocoPhillips has been marketed globally and no company has shown an interest.”
Before ConocoPhillips’ exit, the Chairman, Board of Brass Liquefied Natural Gas, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, had expressed the hope that the project would take off on or before the end of the first quarter of 2013.
It was, however, not to be as the exit of ConocoPhillips created a vacuum that must be filled before the project could take off.
The FID on the Brass LNG project had suffered several postponements as it should have been taken in December 2006 and later in December 2008. It was also postponed to the first quarter of 2011 with construction expected to start by mid-2011. It was later postponed in 2012 to the first quarter of 2013.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2006, facilitated the $10 billion Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas project overlapping the states of Ondo and Ogun and adjacent to the OK-Free Trade Zone under development.
The 12.6m-tonnes-per-annum facility, consists of four trains backed by the NNPC (49 per cent), Chevron (19 per cent), Shell (19 per cent) and the United Kingdom’s BG Group (13 per cent).
A Final Investment Decision was delayed after BG pulled out of the project in May 2012.
OKLNG’s fate was further put on hold when Chevron Nigeria Limited and Shell withdrew from the project.
Chevron had blamed its exit on the lack of progress on the project, eight years after its inception.
The General Manager, Policy, Government & Public Affairs, CNL, Mr. Deji Haastrup, confirmed in a statement that the company effectively pulled out of the project on July 31, 2013. The statement also confirmed that Shell pulled out of the OKLNG project on July 31, 2013.
The source, who reiterated that political interference was one of the major challenges facing the projects, said that OKLNG projects were on the front burner during the Obasanjo administration, but argued that attention shifted to Brass LNG since the former president left office.
Obasanjo, who seemed to have lent credence to this in his recent open letter to Jonathan, said, “some of our development partners were politically frustrated to withdraw from the Olokola LNG project, which happily was not yet the same with the Brass. I initiated them both. They were viable and would have taken us close to Qatar as LNG producing country.
Nigeria, which is the Saudi of Africa in oil and gas terms, is being overtaken by Angola only because necessary decisions are not made timely and appropriately.”
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene
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