Mkpoikana Udoma Port Harcourt — A federal lawmaker, Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo, has queried the justification of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, to cancel the planned N4.5 billion Model School Project in Bonny Island, Rivers State.
NLNG had reached an agreement guaranteeing funding estimated at N4.5 billion, in a tripartite agreement reached among NLNG, the Rivers State Government and Tianjin Energy Resources Limited.
Dagogo who raised the alarm said the fate of the school is now in the balance, following the resolution and approval of NLNG’s 2020 third quarter Board meeting, for the discontinuation of the Bonny Model School, describing it as another manifestation of ‘perpetual slavery attitude’.
The Lawmaker expressed dismay with the disposition of NLNG to the people of Bonny and the Niger Delta region, while wondering the significance of N4.5billion compared to the exploitation, environmental degradation from flared gas in the area, with its attendant health implications.
Dagogo, who represents Degema/Bonny Constituency in the House of Representatives, said just as NLNG was envisioning an expansion from its current Train 7 to 15, the living conditions of the people and environment where the resources are plough, should be catered for.
“It is disheartening and painful that all NLNG, and other major players in the oil sectors are interested in, is to reel out big profits and margins while the people in their areas of operations are made to bear the brunt of their hazardous mode of operations.
“For several decades, they have caused more harms than good to the people. Their claims of joining the rest of the world to achieve a cleaner energy that will protect the planet are all hogwash and hollow designed to play on our intelligence as their actions have proven that they are working in the contrary.
“It tells you the level of regard NLNG have for the people, if a project of mere N4.5billion could be discontinued, a school project at that, in an area they make billions of dollars.
“Our people are always at the receiving end, exposed to several health hazards, the environment has been totally debased with the future at very grave risk. And when they make effort to give back a very minute, very little, of what they have plough they make a big deal of it. That perpetual slavery attitude manifest.”
The lawmaker, however, assured that efforts are on to safeguard the future of the people and the environment, through legislative applications.
“Oil exploration, gas flaring and what have you are having their effects on not only the people but on the environment as well. The earth is sagging due to enormous pressure and we have to secure the future beginning from now.
“Already, I have a bill to that effect that has been transmitted to the leadership of the House. This bill titled Niger Delta Natural Disaster Reserved Fund Bill, 2020, hopefully, and with the support of my colleagues, will address some of these concerns.”
Bonny Island is home to NLNG’s gas processing plants, which are producing millions of tons of liquefied natural gas per annum, and shipped to buyers across the world.
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