NLNG MD Risks Arrest as House of Reps Summons Him Over Iloma Environmental Debacle

The House of Representatives has summoned the Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Philip Mshelbila to respond to allegations by Iloma Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State against his company.

In a petition it brought before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, the Community is alleging that NLNG’s operational activities, particularly, dredging and pipe laying activities, were destroying its environment.

The summons was contained in a letter to the company signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Michael Etiaba, on Friday, June 28, 2024 in FCT Abuja.

In a motion passed by the Committee, Etiaba, who is also the member representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, stated that the NLNG Chief Executive Officer must appear in person or risk the issuance of arrest warrant on him.

According to the letter of summons as sighted by Kristina Reports, the petition was brought before the House of Representatives by Iloma Community in Bonny LGA of Rivers State through the Mangrove Forest Conservation Society of Nigeria.

A member of the Committee, Ibe Osonwa, who is the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, moved the motion for the NLNG Managing Director to be summoned.

He was supported by the member representing Bunza/Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Muhammed, while the Chairman then ruled in favour of the petition.

The petition disclosed that there is restricted and limited access to the community which has paralyzed socio-economic activities allegedly due to dredging and pipe laying activities by the NLNG that have blocked the outlets and inlets of the community.

According to the petition, “At low tides, the community is not accessible and a cumbersome movement from far away Oloma or Ayaminima Communities is the only option from residents and moving foodstuff and materials along that long distance and difficult terrain is challenging”.

“Erosion caused by the dredging has washed away their lands including economic trees and farmlands. Their mangroves, where their marine organisms are, have been destroyed by massive excavations and pipe laying and this has affected their protein needs and cash incomes adversely. Their rivers are polluted and their attempts to fish at the mouth of Bonny river is also stopped by not only lack of access but the obnoxious Fishing Exclusion Zone of NLNG.”

“Iloma must breath and this man’s inhumanity through bad corporate governance and lack of best practices must stop. There are no more fruits, perewinkle, ikoro, ngolo, oyster, crabs, crayfish, ngala, etc at Iloma and the natives have no more sources of cash income and food.”

“There is no Corporate Social Responsibility by NLNG at Iloma to provide basic infrastructure and the Management of NLNG must tell the world what the crime of Iloma is and why it is being suffocated.”

The Nigeria LNG was yet to respond to enquiries from Kristina Reports on the matter as at the time of this report.