– Warns against being taken for granted
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The people of Bonny kingdom in Rivers State have issued a stern warning to the Nigeria LNG Limited and other international oil companies operating in the island, cautioning them against taking the Kingdom’s peaceful disposition for granted.
Narrating the predicament of the island to SweetCrude Reports on Monday, the Chairman of Bonny Kingdom Development Committee, BKDC, Amaopusenibo Amairigha Hart, accused the oil and gas multinationals of neglecting their corporate social responsibility obligations, marginalizing Bonny people, and violating agreements.
Hart warned that the Kingdom would no longer tolerate the flagrant disregard for its developmental needs.
“Bonny Kingdom is known for its peaceful and hospitable nature, but this should not be mistaken for weakness. While individuals, nations, and organizations hail Bonny Island as a blessed geographic location, the land and people have very little to smile about. This stems from the abject neglect, total exclusion, rights and privileges denial, and obnoxious disregard for the people of Bonny Kingdom in the scheme of things with regards to how the companies operating in Bonny Island do their businesses.”
Protest Suspended Following Dialogue Requests by NLNG
Bonny Kingdom had planned to begin an indefinite shutdown of on January 13, 2025, to demand the implementation of stalled development projects and agreements. However, the BKDC announced the suspension of the protest following interventions by NLNG and security agencies, who requested an opportunity for dialogue.
“While the plans to commence the protest were at their peak, government agencies and NLNG reached out to us for a chance to discuss and resolve the issues amicably. The Kingdom considered the requests and had decided to suspend the planned peaceful protest.”
Despite this temporary suspension, the BKDC stressed that it remains steadfast in its demands. “This is a strong note of warning: things cannot remain as they are. A people grounded may be buried but cannot die twice,” Hart stated.
Unfulfilled Promises
Hart highlighted key unimplemented CSR projects under the NLNG Train-7 project, including road expansions, construction of a mini-stadium, a waste-to-wealth facility, and other infrastructure. He alleged that despite adequate funding from Train 7 investors, NLNG has withheld the project funds and failed to deliver.
“For emphasis, NLNG and SCD-JV signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to execute the following projects in the Kingdom under the Train 7 Project: Expansion of the road from Shell Gate to Coal Beach with a spur from Amaomu Junction to the King Perekule Palace; construction of a 5,000-capacity mini-stadium and sports academy; construction of a vehicular terminal; and construction of a 2.5km road from Workers’ Camp to Simidia Junction. But none of these projects has seen the light of day up till now.”
“Interestingly, the people of the Kingdom are well aware that investors in the Train 7 Project provided adequate funds for the implementation of CSR projects in the Kingdom, but unfortunately, NLNG has ensnared these funds in its custody and continued to exercise sole authority over them without any input from the Kingdom,” Hart alleged.
Decades of Neglect
The BKDC boss further lamented the poor living conditions in Bonny despite its immense contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
“As at today, Bonny Island lacks clean, potable, and drinkable water. It lacks basic social amenities. There are no internal roads except the few constructed by the Bonny Local Government. The Bodo-Bonny Road remains under construction since 1975 and is yet to be completed. Roads in the Kingdom remain one-lane narrow roads despite the intense traffic utilization occasioned by the activities of these companies.”
He added that the Kingdom is grappling with severe environmental degradation. “The shores around Bonny Island continue to be washed away by the sea waves, a situation aggravated by the strong waves caused by the heavy traffic of large seagoing vessels owned and operated by the multinationals. The air pollution is at an all-time high with attendant environmental and health hazards which residents of the Island are being subjected to. Acid rain is a normal occurrence, which continues to undermine the sustainability of buildings in the Island.”
The BKDC further urged the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, and IOCs to take immediate action to address the Kingdom’s grievances, warning that failure to do so could result in renewed action from the people.
“This is a cry for help by the people of Bonny Kingdom and a strong note of warning that things will no longer remain as they are. It is time for the Federal and State Government as well as the companies operating in the Kingdom to rise to the occasion and act right, urgently and in the interest of Bonny people.”
The committee emphasized that while the Kingdom values dialogue and collaboration, it expects concrete results and a change in attitude from the companies operating within its borders.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the management of NLNG, through the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Ms. Sophia Horsfall, assured stakeholders that plans for Train 7 CSR projects remain on course.
