The House of Representatives has officially stepped in to rescue a critical, multi-billion Naira local content infrastructure project, calling on federal authorities to immediately revive and complete the abandoned Nigerian Oil and Gas Park (NOGaPS) located at Emeyal, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The resolution followed a compelling motion moved by Hon. Mitema Obordor, who warned that the continued abandonment of the flagship manufacturing and fabrication hub risks wasting billions in taxpayer funds and stalling vital economic opportunities for the Niger Delta region.
Initiated by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Emeyal Oil and Gas Park was designed to be a premier industrial hub. Its primary objective is to drive local content, boost indigenous participation in the oil and gas value chain, and spark massive socio-economic growth and job creation within host communities.
Contracts for the project were duly awarded in 2019 after being fully certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) under the Public Procurement Act 2007. Reputable indigenous firms were contracted for major components:
- O.K. Isokariari & Sons was tasked with building internal roads, drainage networks, and foundational infrastructure.
- MegaStar Construction Company Nigeria Limited was contracted to build the security and administrative blocks, staff hostels, and a mini-estate.
Despite a strict contract timeline requiring completion within 12 to 15 months, and substantial progress showing the facilities were near completion by mid-2021, work on the strategic site has ground to a complete halt.
The House expressed deep worry over the current state of the facility, noting that the prolonged abandonment threatens to undermine the entire initiative.
Hon. Obordor cautioned, “we are looking at a situation where already constructed infrastructure will begin to deteriorate rapidly if left unused. Further delays will inevitably spike overall project costs due to inflation, while denying our youth critical employment opportunities and locking out local content investments.”
To ensure the project does not become another forgotten white elephant, the House of Representatives resolved to:
Call upon the NCDMB and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to prioritize, finalize, and commission the Emeyal Oil and Gas Park without further delay.
Mandate the House Committees on Local Content and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to conduct an immediate, on-site oversight visit. The committees will assess the current physical status of the park, identify the specific administrative or financial bottlenecks holding up completion, and report back to the floor within four weeks for final legislative action.
