Peaceful Protest: NLNG Set to Kickstart Road Expansion, Pay Compensation to Property Owners – BKDC

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) is set to kickstart work on the expansion of the Shell gate to Coal Beach Road with the payment of compensation to property owners along the right of way of the project, the Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC) has said.

Chairman of the BKDC, Amairigha Hart disclosed this on Saturday, January 18, 2025 during a meeting with property owners along the right of way of the project in Bonny, Rivers State.   

He said this was a fallout of the recent suspended peaceful protest by Bonny Kingdom against the NLNG’s alleged intransigence on delivery of corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects agreed on for its Train 7 project, one of which is the road expansion project.

The project will see the expansion of the Shell Road, Mission Road, and King William Dappa Pepple Road terminating at the Coach with a spur from Amaomu Junction to the King Perekule Palace.

In its bid to assuage the anger against it by the people of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, the NLNG met with the BKDC on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 in Bonny where some resolutions were reached including the decision to pay the compensations and kickstart work on the project.

We came out this week Monday to protest against all the ills we have been going through as a people. Though the protest was suspended, our gathering here today is as a result of this protest.

Now they know that Bonny people can rise any day and they will not allow that to happen and that is what has snowballed into our gathering here today.

He informed that documentation of the property owners will commence on Monday, January 20, 2025 while payments will follow in no distant time, noting that though there were initial disagreements on payment of compensations to the impacted property owners the BKDC stood its ground.

He appealed to the property owners to make necessary sacrifices for the development of Bonny Kingdom, noting the forebears of the Kingdom made sacrifices for Bonny Kingdom be what it is today.

He expressed the optimism that when completed, the road, which he said will have a drainage system, pedestrian walkway, street lights, and a roundabout, will improve evacuation of traffic, enhance the aesthetic beauty of the island and make commuting easier for residents.

Some of the property owners used the occasion to ask questions germane to the process which were responded to with clarity by members of the committee.