Sylva lauds NCDMB over Oil and Gas Park

Chinazor Megbolu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Timipre Sylva has lauded the management of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the quality of work and the progress made at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park.

The Minister disclosed this when he led members of the NCDMB Governing Council and other stakeholders to inspect the level of work done on the site, saying the commendation was necessary because the organisation, was being developed by the Board using wholly indigenous companies.

Sylvia also noted that the project, which is located in Emeyal 1, Ogbia, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is 70 per cent ready and will be commissioned before the end of 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I must say I’m very impressed with what I have seen today. This place used to be a swamp before this time but a lot of work has been done to bring it to this standard,” Sylvia said.

He further explained that the oil and gas parks were being developed around the oil and gas producing states towards providing opportunities for original equipment manufacturers to produce components that would serve the oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors.

Sylva noted that the project also supports the President Buhari’s agenda on job opportunities as it would create about 2000 direct and indirect jobs upon completion.

”The NCDMB has done very well; before the establishment of this Board, local participation was about three per cent but today they have taken it to over 30 per cent and the trajectory is to boost it to 70 per cent by the year 2027,” he said.

Sylva, however, thanked the host community for sustaining the atmosphere of peace, charging them to continue to promote peace and tranquility in the community until the completion of the project.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, in his remarks, hailed the Minister for his drive towards the success of the project as well as his devotion and commitment towards the actualisation of the massive project and appreciated.

He further commended President Buhari for his support and drive towards opening local manufacturing shop centers within the country.

“The policy of President Buhari-led Federal Government towards opening up local manufacturing in the country is one sure way of driving economic development,” he said.

Wabote maintained that the NOGaPs is one of the NCDMB flagship projects, that is in line with the Federal Government’s mandate to develop indigenous capacities for the oil and gas sector.