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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has called on the Federal Government to establish a liquified natural gas terminal in the state to optimize economic benefits accruing from the gas sub-sector of the country’s petroleum industry.
The state’s deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call when the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, paid a courtesy visit to the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on MediaDeputy, Mr Doubara Atasi, also stressed the need for the Federal Government to resume and complete work on the abandoned Brass Fertilizer Company for the general good of the country.
Describing Bayelsa as the headquarters of gas in Nigeria, the deputy governor lamented that the state had nothing commensurate to show for its huge natural gas endowment and contribution to the economic development of the nation.
According to Senator Ewhrudjakpo, about 60 percent of the total gas feedstock or supply to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal at Bonny Island was transported from Bayelsa.
He said it would make a lot of economic sense for the Federal Government to establish another gas processing and export terminal in Bayelsa in its next phase of investment in the subsector to cut off the cost of transporting the raw material.
Speaking further on the Brass Fertilizer Plant, the deputy governor said the state government was prepared to partner with all relevant federal authorities to ensure that work on the project gets off the ground.
He equally appealed to the visiting minister to prevail on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to ensure that companies handling fabrication components of contracts carried out such projects in the state to meaningfully engage youths in relevant areas.
His words: “For us here in Bayelsa, we are sitting on oil and gas. We are not only the headquarters of gas, but also substantial or major producer of oil.
“However, we feel that Bayelsa is not treated fairly enough in the gas subsector. You will not believe that 60 or 70 percent of the feedstock at the LNG in Bonny, Rivers State is from Bayelsa here, and yet there is nothing to show for it.
“So, in the second phase of the federal government gasification drive, Bayelsa should have one plant. That will be the only way Bayelsa will feel a sense of belonging in the sector she is contributing so much to.
“I also want to remind you that we have this Brass fertilizer plant issue that has remained too long in the pipeline. We will really appreciate if your ministry can look into the Brass Fertilizer Plant, because it is a project that if we get it right, it would engage a lot of our youths.
“Since you are here also supervising the NCDMB, we feel you should also help us pass this message to the Board, that some of the contracts they award, some of the companies don’t want to be here to execute their jobs.
“For example, they award a contract to a company to do fabrication, but they want to do it outside and not employ our youths. We are appealing that once a project is for Bayelsa, the fabrication and everything should be done in Bayelsa.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of State For Petroleum (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, said his team was in Bayelsa to meet with the management of the NCDMB to work out modalities for improvement in the gas subsector of the petroleum industry.
He said the Federal Government takes the issue of developing the gas subsector seriously with a view to reducing the cost of transportation in the country.
The minister commended Governor Douye Diri for identifying with President Bola Tinubu, particularly his timely and mature handling of the ‘End Bad Governance’ protest and thereby sustaining peace in the state.
He said: “I am here in Bayelsa to meet with the NCDMB management team to deliberate and discuss the issue of gas; how we are going to progress in that sector. And of course, gas is the way to go today.
“The progress of Nigeria today depends on gas. With gas in total circulation, there would be reduction in transportation fare. The economy of this country do well with gas because we have in abundance. That is why I am here.
“Let me use this opportunity to equally thank you and the governor of Bayelsa State, for what I have heard that you have appointed two members of the APC as commissioners into your state executive council. This is how politics should be played, and I believe if we take it in this route, peace will be sustained.
“Thank you for maintaining peace in Bayelsa State. I heard on the first day of the end bad governance protest, when the boys came out, the governor addressed them and asked them to relax, assuring everything would be put in place.
“I wouldn’t be here if there was continued protest in Bayelsa. So, I salute your courage; I salute your government, and I salute the people of Bayelsa State for identifying with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”