CLAIM: An image is being circulated on WhatsApp claiming that the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) has shut down due to the flood incidents in the country.
The image, which is a screenshot of a text initially posted on a WhatsApp status, advised Nigerians to buy extra cooking gas as a mitigating effort ahead of the shortage that would be experienced due to the shutdown.
The image reads “ATTENTIONS. If you have spare gas cylinder please buy extra cooking gas now. NLNG has shut down due to the flood. Remain blessed. NLNG has announced suspension of gas production in Nigeria due to flood affecting her plants. The implication us that, we many experience shortage of gas ans consequently hike in price in the next few weeks. So people should try and fill up their cylinders.”
Meanwhile, Television Continental (TVC) on its news on October 18, 2022, reported a similar story with the headline ‘NLNG Shuts Operations Over Flooding, Gas Scarcity Looms.’
The details of the video read ‘The Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas company has declared force majeure because of widespread flooding that has disrupted supply’. In the news delivery also, there was no reference to NLNG shutting down its operations.
VERIFICATION: the flooding in Nigeria in 2022 has led to damage including deaths, displacements, damage to property, disruption to movement, and health complications.
Also affected by the flood is the Nigeria NLNG, a joint venture incorporated in 1989 to produce LNG and natural gas liquids for export. The flood has forced the NLNG to declare a force majeure on its supplies after its upstream gas suppliers had declared force majeure.
Force majeure absolves companies from liabilities of contractual obligations due to factors outside their control.
The company’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh said “the notice by the gas suppliers was a result of high flood water levels in their operational areas, leading to a shut-in of gas production which has caused significant disruption of gas supply to NLNG.”
However, the company has announced that it has not shut down operations due to the current widespread flooding but only declared a force majeure on shipments from its Bonny Island facility due to the unprecedented level of flooding that affected gas supply.
Andy Odeh while speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on October 24, 2022 confirmed that the company has not shut down its operations, reiterating that “last week, the only dedicated LPG vessel left the Bonny facility to deliver into Lagos.”
He also warned against panic buying and storage of cooking gas as it is hazardous.
VERDICT: The viral post on WhatsApp that the NLNG has shut down its operations due to flood and that people should store cooking gas is FALSE. Though the NLNG declared a force majeure due to the flood, it has not shut down any of its plants
This fact-check was produced by BONews Service with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck, International Fact-Checking Network, and African Fact Checking Alliance network.