The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has assured that host communities are being carried along and empowered as the Nigerian Oil & Gas Park Schemes (NOGAPS) in Odukpani, Cross River and Emeyal 1 Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State get set to commence operations.
This is in line with NCDMB’s avowed mission to promote peaceful co-existence and fast-track development in its areas of operations.
Ginah O. Ginah, General Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination Division at the NCDMB, gave the assurance on Thursday and Friday during a media tour of the Parks.
The facilities at the Odukpani Park, which is sitting on 25 hectares of land are at various level of completion just as interested companies have been sending applications to secure spaces at the Park.
The director said provisions have been made for the host community to ensure indigenes are carried along properly in line with the Community Guideline Content developed by the NCDMB.
According to him, Odukpani Park is already supplying the host community with potable water. Other benefits due to the host community include employment opportunities, training for unskilled and semi-skilled indigenes, capacity building as well as scholarship programs.
The Odukpani Park and the one in Bayelsa are being developed in conjunction with key International Oil Companies (IOC) and geared towards achieving full industrialisation.
The parks would incubate the manufacturing of equipment components utilized in the oil and gas industry.
To encourage companies to move into the Park, Dr. Ginah said the federal government recently approved a $50 million fund for the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGAPS) product manufacturing line.
According to the general manager, arrangements have been made to ensure seamless operations by providing adequate security made up of a combined team of mobile policemen and local security men.
Speaking about the facilities at the Park, the Site Engineer said the Administrative block which houses a banking hall, restaurant and sick bay is completed.
The capacity building block is also fully ready. It has an auditorium that sits 200 people with 6 classrooms for training purposes.
Other facilities include a state-of-the-art Information Technology Centre (ICT), hostels, water treatment building, recreation area, Helipad, maintenance building, fire service, security gatehouse and Mini Parks.
Ginah also disclosed on Friday, May 12 during the media tour of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS), at Emeyal 1 Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State that ‘’As part of our CSR policy, we continually seek to support and empower our host communities.
“At the construction sites of all our oil and gas parks, we engage the host communities in so many positive areas. Here in NOGaPS, they supply sand, granite and other raw materials needed by us that are equally available for use. However, all the materials they supply must go through proper quality control measures before being accepted,” he stated.
Explaining further, Ginah told members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) touring with him that NCDMB’s landmark projects were helping immensely to develop and reposition host communities in Niger Delta.
Ginah added that the desire and decision to positively assist and render support to host communities, especially those in the Niger Delta region, was for the greater good of the country. “We need their support and co-operation to succeed in their territory. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”
According to him, “Our six-lane road project powered by SUKUK, is currently under construction within this community. When completed, it will be a major access road linking NOGaPS to the rest of Bayelsa and even beyond. It will further open up the communities and bring more development that will be beneficial to the people.
“We are also building an international hotel beside our headquarters here in Bayelsa. When completed also, it will bring huge employment opportunities and further fast-track development, he said.
The multi-billion NOGaPS Emeyal 1 scheme, which sits on 24 hectares of land, is billed for commissioning in the last quarter of 2023.
The NCDMB is also working to develop oil and gas Parks at Oguta in Imo, at Onne in Akwa Ibom, Ilaje in Ondo State and in Delta.
