Group of youths drawn from parts of Niger Delta Region have threatened to shot down Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, Company’s operation, especially in Rivers State over the recent siting of the Dry-dock at Badagry lagos.
Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the spokesman of the youth group under the aegis of Niger-Delta Youths for Progress, Barrister Simeon Wilcox said 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.
Wilcox said NLNG failed to consider the people who bear the consequence of pollution arising from flared gas, environmental degradation and vessel wave action resulting to fishermen loosing their only source of livelihood.
The spokesman also called on the federal and the state government, including all security agencies to intervene on what he described as important matter in other to avert situations where youths of the state will be left with no choice than to take to the street in protest.
According to the group, “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.”
Also speaking at the meeting, the national secretary of Iyaw youth Council, Bristol-Alagbariya Emmanuel accused the company of carrying out feasibility study without the knowledge of the stakeholders from Rivers state and Niger Delta at large.
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