A number of foreign companies have indicated interest in establishing shop floors at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme, (NOGaPS) upon completion. This disclosure was made known by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote recently when he led top management of the Board to the NOGaPS, Odukpani site in Cross River State to assess the extent of construction work.

The Executive Secretary pointed that the Board is giving the investors progress updates as contracts can only be signed with them when the project is be completed. “A lot of interest has been shown by the Chinese as well who also intend to establish their presence here to enhance manufacturing and create in-country value and create jobs for Nigerians,” he stated.

Engr. Wabote also asserted that the Board is looking at the flurry of applications to ascertain the ones that actually fit into the oil and gas sector as well as auxiliary services.

He stated that at the completion of the Oil and Gas Park, experts with proficiency in facilities, sites and services would be engaged to manage the parks, with a smooth synergy with the Board as property owners.

Engr. Wabote enjoined oil and and gas stakeholders to continue to support the development of the project as a long term strategy that would create employment for Cross Riverians, as well as for Nigerians. He charged them to advocate and show interest as the Board develops a model of establishing manufacturing facilities in-country.

Disclosing that the dearth of manufacturing plants is one of the challenges in the oil and gas sector, the Executive Secretary commended the Federal Government for raising the bar in terms of ease of doing business.

He hinted that a 24/7 gas-fired power plant will be provided in each of the parks to help bring down cost of operations of the firms.

Commending the contractors for the substantial progress made on the project so far, he announced that the park will be ready for commissioning in the last quarter of 2022.

He also stressed that the provision of multiple contractors on site enhanced comparison of quality and pace of work to meet the  high standards demanded by the Board. The Nigerian Content Chieftain stated that all the contractors are indigenous firms and they have good knowledge of the environmental, socio-cultural and other challenges of the Niger Delta region.

The Executive Secretary remarked that the import of the visit was to familiarize his team with the progress on site. He said the Board believes that it would make a difference with these industrial parks because there is commitment to ensure that they are operationalized.

He concluded that the policy of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is to ensure that all projects that were started are completed, including projects that were initiated prior his present administration, which is why the date of Q4, 2022 is sacrosanct.

High point of the engagement were inspection visits to the Hostels constructed by Altex Engineering Services Limited, Administrative Block and Security House constructed by EST Master Construction Limited, Water Treatment Plant and Fire Station Building constructed by Kinetic Electromechanic Nigeria Limited, and the sites for Manufacturing Shop Floor 1 and Warehouse Building soon to be constructed by Deux Project Limited.