The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its strides in the oil and gas sector of the economy with the coming of stream of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS).
Lokpobiri said the government will support the Board to ensure that the park takes off on schedule, adding that when completed the park will boost in country production in the oil and gas sector.
He said the federal government will continue to boost the economy and create jobs by incentivizing local manufacturing in the oil and gas industry.
He also identified the effective implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010 as one of the key levers for actualizing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during a tour of NCDMB facilities and projects in Bayelsa State the minister noted that lack of access to affordable finance is one of the biggest challenges facing emerging players in the oil and gas sector.
Commenting after he toured the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS) at Emeyal 1, in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State, the minister described the park project as a game changer in the nation’s drive to boost in-country manufacturing in the oil and gas sector.
” I am impressed with what is on ground here. I felt that I must come physically see things for myself. Sometimes what you see on the screen presented to you might not be a true reflection of what is on ground.
” I chose to come here today, I have seen and I most say it is a world class, this will be a game changer when it is completed. The APC government made a promise to Nigerians that are going to create opportunities for businesses to thrive.”
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, stated that the Emeyal- 1 park would be commissioned in the first quarter of 2024.
He attributed the slight delay in the execution schedule to the devastating flooding that hit several states in the second and third quarters of 2022.