By Mercy Gadia
The House of Representatives on Thursday called for the immediate completion and commissioning of the Oil and Gas Park located at Emeyal in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, decrying its prolonged abandonment despite nearing completion.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ogbia Federal Constituency, Hon. Mitema Obordor, during plenary.
Moving the motion, Obordor said the Oil and Gas Park, a flagship project under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, was conceived to boost local content, create jobs, and drive industrial growth in the Niger Delta and beyond.
He noted that the project, awarded in 2019 and certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007, had reached an advanced stage of completion before work stalled.
According to him, “From what is visible to the ordinary Nigerian, the project is about 70 to 75 per cent completed. Facilities such as housing units have been roofed and plastered, yet the project has been abandoned.”
He expressed concern that the delay had deprived the host community and the nation of critical economic benefits, including employment opportunities for youths.
“The estimated number of youths to be employed at the initial take-off was about 2,100. Imagine taking that number of young people off the streets and engaging them meaningfully,” he said.
The lawmaker lamented that continued neglect of the project could lead to deterioration of already completed infrastructure and increased costs.
“When a project is abandoned midway, it deteriorates rapidly. Even facilities already completed begin to wear away. This is not in the best interest of the country,” he added.
Speaking with journalists after plenary, Obordor said the motion was driven by persistent concerns from his constituents over the delay in putting the facility to use.
“My people keep asking why this project has not been completed and put to use. The benefits are enormous, not just for Bayelsa but for Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
He added that the park, once operational, would serve as a hub for local fabrication, manufacturing, and service delivery in the oil and gas sector.
“This project will encourage indigenous participation across the oil and gas value chain. It will provide meaningful employment and reduce restiveness in the region,” he said.
Obordor also criticised the implementation of past empowerment programmes in the Niger Delta, noting that many lacked sustainability.
“It is not enough to train people without providing opportunities for them to apply those skills. We must ensure that training translates into meaningful employment,” he said.
The House, therefore, urged the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to prioritise the completion of the project.
It also mandated its Committees on Local Content and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to conduct an oversight visit to ascertain the current status of the project and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.