Reps Push For Completion Of Bayelsa Oil , Gas Park

The House of Representatives has called for the completion and commissioning of the Oil and Gas Park located in Emeyal, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as part of efforts to boost local content and industrial development in the oil sector.

Lawmakers also urged the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to prioritise the project and ensure its speedy completion.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by the member representing Ogbia Federal Constituency, Hon. Mitema Obordor, during plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Obordor said the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS), initiated by the NCDMB, was designed to promote local content, encourage indigenous participation in the oil and gas value chain, create jobs and drive economic growth in host communities.

He noted that the Emeyal Oil and Gas Park was one of the flagship projects under the scheme, strategically positioned to serve as a hub for manufacturing, fabrication and service delivery within the oil and gas industry.

According to him, the contracts for the project were awarded in 2019 under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources through the NCDMB and were duly certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in line with the Public Procurement Act.

Obordor explained that the project was expected to be completed within 12 to 15 months, with completion, commissioning and full operations originally scheduled within that timeframe.

He, however, expressed concern that despite significant progress recorded by mid-2021, the project has since been abandoned.

He warned that the continued delay could lead to deterioration of already completed infrastructure, increased project costs, and loss of potential economic benefits.

“Further delay in the completion and commissioning of the park may lead to deterioration of already constructed infrastructure, increased project costs and missed opportunities for local content development and investment attraction,” he said.

The House therefore urged relevant authorities to take urgent steps to complete and operationalise the facility to unlock its intended economic and employment benefits for Bayelsa State and the country at large.