..Condemns Abandonment of Key Gas Projects

..Urges Tinubu to Address Regional Marginalization

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has expressed strong opposition to the exclusion of the Niger Delta region from the newly launched Mini Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and the federal government.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Spokesperson, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PANDEF described the decision to site all five Mini LNG plants in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, as a deliberate act of marginalization and economic injustice against the primary producers of Nigeria’s gas resources.

The socio-cultural group criticized the federal government for neglecting the Niger Delta in key infrastructure projects while abandoning critical gas initiatives that could drive economic growth in the region. Among these abandoned projects are:

Ogedegbe Gas Project in Delta State

Brass LNG in Bayelsa State

Olokola LNG in Ondo State

“Despite being the primary producer of Nigeria’s gas resources, the Niger Delta has once again been sidelined in a critical economic development initiative,” the statement read. “This exclusion contradicts the federal government’s commitments to equity, fairness, and resource control under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).”

PANDEF also lamented the lack of qualified Niger Delta representation in the leadership of NNPC Ltd, arguing that this exclusion perpetuates policies detrimental to the region.

The forum called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent corrective measures in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda to sustain the peace cultivated by Niger Delta elders and leaders.

“While restating our commitment to peaceful engagement, PANDEF will resist through all constitutional means any attempt to further impoverish the people of the Niger Delta while others benefit from their God-given resources,” Dr. Ominimini emphasized.

The group urged NNPC Ltd and the federal government to review their decision and ensure the equitable siting of Mini LNG plants in the Niger Delta to promote balanced development and economic justice.