Rivers State communities in the Orashi area have threatened not to allow the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 project to commence if they are not consulted by the Federal Government and the companies involved.

The communities, under the umbrella of Ekpeye Oil and Gas Pipeline Host Communities (EOGPHC), also threatened a showdown with multinationals operating in their area should they refuse to address their challenges.

The group, yesterday at a press briefing, claimed that International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in their area had impoverished them for too long, hence the need to address their plights.
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The Chairman of EOGPHC, Chidi Idogini, said it was wrong that Federal Government and NLGN were only dealing with Bonny communities in the Train 7 project, regretting that attention had not been given to Ekpeye people where the gas would be drilled.

Idogini argued that attention ought to have been given to Ekpeye communities where the raw material would be sourced than Bonny where only a terminal is being sited.

He disclosed that the people would not allow the project to commence if FG and NLNG did not consult and give them their rights, adding that an employment quota should be given to the Ekpeye people.

Idogini said: “NLNG cannot start Train 7 contract without involving the Ekpeye nation, because the Train 7 is totally a business that has to do with Ekpeye and partly Ogba communities. It is expedient for them to discuss with us because we will not allow any company to come to Ekpeye land to do drilling without due consultation and involvement.

“NLNG cannot employ 12,000 persons in Bonny and feel that Ekpeye people will be happy. That will never happen. They must come here. If they feel they want to balkanise Ekpeye, they want to come in and feed fat, that era has gone.

“We call on the governor to take it as a matter of utmost urgency to talk to the IOCs because they are trying to introduce what is known as divide-and-rule method and we will not accept that.”

They commended Rivers State government for tackling soot and appealed for employment opportunities for youths of the state.
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