The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas said it was evaluating a directive by the Senate for the company to pay the sum of N18.4 billion as compensation to some host communities.
The Senate had, on Tuesday, asked the NLNG to pay the said sum to about 200 families whose farms in Bonny, Rivers State, were acquired for pipelines Rights of Way.
The directive was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions that investigated a petition by the communities.
The committee Chairman, Senator Patrick Akinyelure, in his report, had said following its incorporation, the NLNG acquired landed properties in the state spanning over 210 kilometres for use as its pipelines Right of Way which ended at the export terminal of the NLNG in Finima, Bonny Local Government of the state.
He said, “There were over 73 communities and over 200 families whose hitherto agrarian source of livelihood was negatively impacted upon by the said acquisition.”
But the NLNG in a statement entitled: ‘RE: Senate directs NLNG to pay host communities N18.4b compensation within two months’ said it was evaluating the Senate’s resolution and circumstances surrounding it.
The statement was signed by the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of NLNG, Andy Odeh, and made available to our correspondent in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
It read,” The attention of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has been drawn to a resolution said to have been passed by the Senate, following the consideration of a report by its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, sequel to a petition relating to compensation for the acquisition of a Right of Way across some communities.
“NLNG is evaluating the resolution and circumstances surrounding it. “NLNG wishes to state that it has always conducted its business responsibly and in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including in this specific matter.”
