By Thompson ABISOLA
Indigenous Vendors in Bonny, Rivers have expressed willingness to participate in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) Train-7 Round table to take advantage of the business opportunities it will provide
The NLNG Train-7, is a gas production expansion project valued at over 7 billion dollars, located in Bonny Island in Rivers.
The roundtable on the NLNGTrain-7 is expected to hold from Nov. 22 to Nov. 23.
The entrepreneurs under the auspices of Association Niger Delta Vendors in Oil and Gas said that the upcoming Business Workshop for Young Entrepreneurs in the Oil and Gas in Bonny Kingdom ahead the Train-7 was a welcome development.
Mr George Sunju, the leader of the group said on Tuesday in Yenagoa that the meeting to highlight opportunities was timely as it would address the teething challenges for the project to take off smoothly.
He said that engaging businessmen from the host community of the NLNG in the project would ensure that the people would be happy to support the expansion, adding that “the environment is safe for business’’.
“We want to applaud the organiser’s of this novel initiative. It encourages community participation, and when that is factored into it, the environment becomes conducive.
“Leadership of various professional groups in Bonny Kingdom are favourable disposed to the idea of this gathering to examine the potential of the proposed NLNG Train-7.
“We are therefore commending the Minister of State for Petroleum, Executive Secretary of NCDMB and the Special Adviser to President on Niger Delta, Prof. Charles Dokubo for putting together this workshop.
“This is the first time the host community is being recognised by including them in the public awareness programme for opportunities for prospective vendors.
“These are the kind of moves that make community feel involved and hence the people will jealously guard the project and its facilities.
“We believe that issues discussed in this forum will give a pragmatic approach to mitigate industrial disputes before they occur because of the proactive steps taken by the management of the NLNG.
“The commitment, passion and content brought to the table are quite impressive, we wish to encourage these collective efforts by the relevant stakeholders to use the project to drive development of Niger Delta region,” he said.
Sunju said that they were initially apprehensive that the awareness would only hold in Port Harcourt, but were reassured that the decision to host the workshop in Bonny was a proof that the government was sensitive.
According to him, more than 100 vendors and so many business groups have signed up for the workshop.
He expressed optimism of the huge business and development potential the event would bring to the Bonny.
Sunju commended Mr Tony Attah, the NLNG Managing Director and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu for their efforts in seeing that the training came into fruition.
The Programme Coordinator, Mr Charles Jumbo said that the Local Organising Committee had commenced an awareness interactive session in preparation of the summit.
Jumbo advised prospective participants to log in to the official portal www.ndycpp.org to register and make reservations for seats.
