By John Ikani
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has rounded off a two-week stakeholders’ tour of its projects, partnerships and initiatives in Niger Delta region.
The tour which began in Cross River took the stakeholders to the NOGaPS site at Odukpani, then to the Government Technical College, Abak in Akwa Ibom State where the Board renovated laboratories and technical workshops in the college.
Visits were made to Bunorr Integrated Base Oil Company at Omagwa in Rivers State; Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Ibigwe, Imo State and then to Bayelsa State where the participants toured the 17 storey Nigerian Content Headquarters Building, integrated Gas Turbine at Elebele and the NOGaPS site in Emeyal 1.
The team also visited Delta State where stakeholders visited the Nedo Gas Plant and the Kwale Gas Gathering Plant, both at Ndokwa West, and the ICT Centre at the Afiasere Secondary School in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
Expressing his fulfilment at the completion of the tour in Edo State, the General Manager of the Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordination NCDMB, Dr. Ginah O. Ginah stated that the exercise was successful and accomplished the purpose, noting that it included traversing some states in the Niger Delta region with critical stakeholders to see for themselves the projects the Board had actually executed and the positive impact it had recorded in the areas.
Dr. Ginah highlighted that those projects will drastically reduce capital flight and further increase the retention of spend in the oil and gas industry through domiciliation of manufacturing and other oil and gas activities.
Speaking at the Duport Midstream Energy Park at Egokor in Orionwo Local Government Area of Edo State, the General Manager indicated that the facilities are of immense importance to the nation’s economy. “These projects when fully operational will produce products relevant to the nation’s economy, the environment and energy transformation”, he stated.
In his remarks, the Edo State Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Hon. Andrew Adaze Enwanta who was represented by the Editor of the Nigerian Observer newspapers, Mr. Eubaldos Enahoro said the tour was revealing and confirmed that the implementation of the
Nigerian Content Act had resulted in domiciliation and domestication of key facilities by indigenous companies.
He noted that foreign multinationals and companies dominated the oil and gas industry in the past, but Nigerians had now shown capacity and competence in key areas of industry operations.
Also speaking during the tour of the Energy Park, the Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, (NSE), Benin Branch, Eng. Omoregie Ehigie Armstrong solicited for an interface between the Board and the NSE to be abreast of the Board’s activities and position itself for subsequent projects.
Speaking on behalf of the youths in the area, the Edo State Chairman of the Niger Delta Youths Movement, (NDYM), Comrade Asoro Phillips thanked the Board for inviting them to be part of the tour. He expressed amazement at the magnitude of the project the Board has been able to initiate and the spate of development of oil and gas activities in the area.
The youth leader lauded the Board and Duport Midstream Company Limited for bringing such an impactful investment to Orionwo community and commended Duport for keeping faith with the Board’s Community Content Guidelines.
Comrade Phillips charged youths in the area to eschew rancor, protect and guard the project from vandals and any form of protests.
Speaking to newsmen, the Superintendent of Duport Energy Park, Engr. Barango Eresome Llyod hinted that the facility is 95 percent complete and was awaiting commissioning within the year. Engr.
Llyod disclosed that the park consisted of three major aspects, which are gas processing facility, compressed natural gas facility, and the modular refinery, including a tank farm for storage, sale and distribution of finished products.
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