Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has promised the full support of his Ministry towards the realization of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, Multi-Purpose Industrial Platform Project, describing it as a strategic national initiative capable of unlocking value from Nigeria’s vast gas resources.
Speaking while receiving a delegation from NSIA at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, the Minister assured the group of the Federal Government’s backing, stressing that the project transcends state boundaries and must be treated as a National priority.
According to him, the proposed Integrated Ammonia and Fertilizer production facility, to be sited in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, is about national development and the Nation’s Food Security.
“There are huge benefits that this project will bring to our country, Nigeria. It’s not about Akwa Ibom State, but about Nigeria so I am fully in support of this project. We will be in the center of the negotiation. I and my team will engage all the necessary stakeholders involved in delivering the Project to ensure that it kicks off this Year. Since 2018, you have still been on the drawing board. I think the time has come under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this project to see the light of the day”, he said.
He noted that while investors are entitled to returns on their investments, such ventures must equally deliver tangible value to the Nigerian economy through job creation, industrial growth and enhanced energy security.
Earlier, the NSIA delegation, led by Barr. Uduak Ukpeh, presented details of the project, which is expected to sit on a 250-hectare parcel of land and develop a 1.5MTPA integrated ammonia and fertilizer production facility.
The team disclosed that the project would require about 150 million standard cubic feet of gas and is projected to create approximately 500 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs during construction and production, while also positioning Nigeria to meet Morocco’s demand for cost-competitive ammonia.
