Indigenous Vendors in Bonny, Rivers State, have expressed willingness to participate in the business opportunities roundtable for the area between November 22 and 23 on the NLNG Train 7.

NLNG Train 7 is a gas production expansion project valued at over $7 billion by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) located in Bonny Island in Rivers.

The entrepreneurs under the auspices of Association Niger Delta Vendors in Oil and Gas said the upcoming Business Workshop for Young Entrepreneurs in the Oil and Gas in Bonny Kingdom ahead the Train 7 was a welcome development.

Mr Chris Jumbo, Organising Committee Chairman for the event told newsmen in Bonny on Monday that the meeting to highlight opportunities was timely, as it will address teething challenges for the project to take off smoothly.

According to him, engaging businessmen from the host community of the NLNG in the project would ensure that the people would be happy to support the expansion and the environment is safe for business.

Jumbo said: “We want to applaud the organisers of this novel initiative. It encourages community participation, and when that is factored in, the environment becomes conducive.

“Leadership of various professional groups in Bonny kingdom are favourable disposed to the idea of this gathering to examine the potentials 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 host community is being recognised by including them while carrying out the public awareness for opportunities for prospective vendors.

“These are the kind of move that makes community feel involved and hence will jealously guard the project and its facilities.

“We believe that issues discussed in this forum will give a pragmatic approach to mitigate industrial dispute 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 driver development of Niger Delta region.”

Jumbo said that they were initially apprehensive that the awareness will only hold in Port Harcourt, but were reassured by the decision to host the workshop in Bonny was a proof that the government is 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 potentials the event will bring to the Bonny and commended Mr Tony Attah NLNG MD, and Minister of State for Petroleum for efforts in seeing that train come to fruition.

Also the Programm Coordinator, Charles Jumbo, said that the LOC 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

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