Protests Rock Airport, Saipem, Daewoo in Rivers
From ERIC MOORE, Port Harcourt
People of Finima community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, grounded operations of Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo (SCD) companies alleging neglect in the ongoing multi-million naira Train-7 project embarked being executed by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Company (NLNG).
The community is host to the NLNG and the Train-7 project which is being constructed by the Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo (SCD) joint venture (JV).
Pentoks News gathered that the project, which started in 2021, is at about 70 percent completion stage.
Among the demands of the community, are full implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010, Community Content Guideline 2017, respect for the leadership of Finima and display of vendors list approved for the community.
The community, who defied heavy rains that started around 3.00am on Tuesday, barricaded the entrance to the companies, preventing entry and exit by staff.
Speaking to newsmen during the protest, Chairman, Finima Youth Congress, Shedrack Brown, stated that several efforts by the community to have a dialogue with the JV companies over the concerns raised have failed.
He said: “Today, the entirety of Finima community have come out to express their displeasure over the neglect of Saipem/Daewoo, that is the Train 7 contractors, who for over time, has decided not to have dealings with Finima.
“You could recall that in 2021, there was a ground breaking for the construction of LNG Train 7 Project. And NLNG in their wisdom brought the entirety of the team of this project to Finima community for identification and then engagement. But ever since that was done till date, the team SDJV has refused to have any dealings with Finima community.
“In fact, we have written several letters through the Finima Capacity Development Committee, even through the Finima Youth Congress, a lot of bodies in the community has written to SDJV to ensuring that they have engagement with the community.
“It is unfair, it is preposterous, it is unjust that such project will be going on in a community and the company will refuse very firmly to have any engagement or dealings with the community in which they are having the construction.”
The youth leader accused the companies of refusing to turn up for a meeting with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, who invited all parties for a dialogue, saying the community had no choice but to resort to self-help through the protest.
He continued: “Before then, we have invited them; they refused to come. We have written series of letters in ensuring that we have a dialogue to have our concerns discussed. But, this team refused vehemently. Of course, at such point, we have no other option than resort to self-help and in carrying out this peaceful protest.
“And what have been our requests, implement the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Development Act of 2010, ensure that you comply with the Community Content Guidelines of 2017. These are extant laws of the federation that we are saying comply with. We are not bringing things from the blues, we are not bringing things that are unimaginable. We are bringing things that are common for everybody to practise.
“Even, the Act of 2017 provided that every company, every set law, every operator, must provide an employment scheme, must provide a training scheme; but, the question is what have we benefitted as a community when it comes to this project.
Another community leader, Warisenibo Brown, lamented the neglect of community by the companies.
Brown, the Asawo Sibidabo of Finima community said: “We do not have any representative here and their project is going on. As if that is not enough, we sent them some list of personnel for them to absorb, they ignored us, they refused to employ those persons.
“We want NLNG, Saipem and Daewoo to come and talk to our leadership. They should come and tell us why have they neglected us for the number of years that they have been operating in our land. They just push us aside; so, the protest today is necessary and anything other than that, we will not leave this place.”
On their part, the Secretary, Finima community women, Mrs. Linda Brown and the General Secretary, Finima Youth Congress, Strong Ezekiel, respectively, expressed displeasure at the marginalization of the community in the project.
“We are not happy because of the situation on ground. Since the train 7 Project started, all what they promised the community, precisely the women, we have not gotten any and right now the project is almost done and that is why we decided to take this action so that we all will benefit from it because presently there is nothing for us.
“The neglect has marred us, we have no say whatsoever. It is painful, it is our land, it’s our community, it’s what we have, God gave it to us so we should benefit from it primarily and we are short-changed. Our youths are not happy because in terms of employment they are no where, they dropped our youths to bring in strangers from afar. We are not happy at all and until a sacrosanct answer is given in this demonstration, we won’t rest,” they stated.
In a related development, the IPO community women in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State, staged a peaceful demonstration, blocking the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The protest which was in to the morning, caused significant disruption and leaving passengers stranded amid the escalating political crisis in Rivers State.
The women actively blocked the gate of the airport, causing gridlock, as numerous cars carrying passengers were queued up and unable to enter the airport.
Some women brought cooking pots, firewood, and ingredients, and were seen pounding items in mortars at the entrance.
It was gathered they were protesting the lack of drinkable water, electricity and effective network service.
One of the protesters, Madam Margaret Nzima, lamented that IPO, being the host community to the Port Harcourt International Airport has not benefited from federal government.
She said: “We are the host community. But, there is nothing to show we have benefited from the airport authority.
“If you go to our community, we don’t have good water to drink. We don’t have steady light. The worst is that, when you want to make call, you would look for where to stay to get network.”
Also, Mrs. Faith Okaah, complained: “Every moment, noise from aeroplanes won’t allow us to rest. Yet, government doesn’t care about what we are suffering in community.
“So, we are calling on federal government, this is not the issue of state government, to do something about our conditions. Our major demands are, we need steady power supply, drinkable water and effective network service, so that we can know things happening in the state.”