Dry-Dock: Niger-Delta Youths threaten to shut down NLNG
Felix Okoye
Youths across Niger Delta Region of Nigeria in disagreement with the citing of Dry-dock in Badagry, Lagos State in the Western part of the country by Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, have threatened to shut down the company’s operation, especially in Rivers State.
This was made known by the spokesperson of the youths under the umbrella of Niger-Delta Youth for Progressives while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, Barrister Simeon. Wilcox.
According to him, 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.
“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.”
The national secretary of Iyaw youth Council, Bristol-Alagbariya Emmanuel at the occasion accused the company of carrying out feasibility study without the knowledge of the stakeholders from Rivers state and Niger Delta at large.
