Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The lawmaker representing Ogbia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Obua, on Monday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the construction of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre in Bayelsa State.
Obua also commended the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, for driving the project alongside key institutions like the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Shell Petroleum and Development Company and the Bayelsa State Government.
The legislator, elected under the Peoples Democratic Party platform noted that the project is coming 64 years after the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in Oloibiri, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The lawmaker in a statement, expressed optimism on the prospects of the historic project, explaining that it will promote tourism in the state, create job opportunities for the people, attract foreign investments and preserve the heritage and developments in the oil and gas sector in the country.
Obua added the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre, when completed, will give the people a sense of fulfilment, having yearned for it for decades and considering the general level of development that will envelope the area, especially communities within Ogbia LGA.
He expressed delight that the deliberate timeline for the project which includes eight months preconstruction activities and 36 months for construction, underscores the seriousness of the Buhari-led administration to deliver the project in good time.
According to him, “Last week the Federal Government made good its intention for the people of Bayelsa and the Niger Delta with the approval for the establishment of an Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre in Oloibiri.
“This landmark project which has been on the drawing board for over three decades will change the lives of the people of Oloibiri and Ogbia in general. It will not only stimulate the economy of the state and Nigeria, it will attract an unprecedented level of development to the area.
“As the lawmaker representing the Constituency, I am delighted about the seriousness that has been attached this time around to the project to ensure timely completion.
“The people deserve this project as the Oloibiri oil well was the first oil well that gave Nigeria her first huge petro dollar earnings from crude which till date remains the mainstay of our economy.
“So, I commend President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and all the key partners, the NCDMB, PTDF, SPDC and the Bayelsa State Government for embarking on this historic project.”
Obua appealed to President Buhari to approve the construction of a dual carriage highway from Yenagoa that will pass through Oloibiri and link the Ogbia/Nembe road, as well as provision of potable water, electricity and other forms of empowerment to people of the host communities.
He also appealed to NCDMB to extend its electricity supply arrangement with the Nigrian Agip Oil Company to Oloibiri and other communities to end the darkness that has continued to enveloped the area.