The Federal Government has threatened to embargo the construction of multi-billion dollars Nigerian Oil and Gas Park at Odukpani, Cross River State “if it faces unreasonable demands and disruptions” by host communities.
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), an agency of government, issued this threat during the flag off of the Parks’ construction.
Particularly, it warned the youths to desist from any action that could jeopardise the project.
Executive Secretary, NCDMB. Simbi Wabote, said this in a statement, made available to New Telegraph.
He said that the goal of creating a regional low-cost manufacturing hub was to produce equipment components and spare parts that would be utilized in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry.
“The Odukpani Park is the first to take off among four planned sites and will be followed by the site in Emeyal 1, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State,’ the statement read.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony. Wabote credited his predecessors for initiating the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGAPS).
He added : “Its nicely into our 10-year strategy roadmap aimed at raising in-country value retention in the oil and gas industry from the current levels to 70 percent.”
He described the ground-breaking as great step towards achieving one of the Board’s key mandates, which is ‘’to develop capacity of local supply chain for effective and efficient service delivery without compromising oil and gas industry standards.’’
He asserted that about 2000 jobs would be created when the park begins full operation while the citizens of the host community and environs will benefit from on-the-job training opportunities. “This project will positively impact Cross River State in general and Odukpani community and its environs in particular. This positive impact will be felt both at the construction and operations stages of the project.”
Wabote explained that NOGAPS sites are planned to be sited close to existing power plants while provisions are also made to generate captive power in a bid to address the electricity challenge that face most Nigerian manufacturers and businesses.
