FG Reconstitutes Committees to Reactivate $20bn Ogidigben Gas Project
The Federal Government, Wednesday, commenced moves for the reactivation of the Ogidigben Gas Revolution Industrial Park, initially valued at about $20 billion, with the inauguration of a steering committee and a technical working group, comprising senior and chief executive officers of critical government agencies, a state governor and experts.
In a statement in Abuja, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, said the steering committee and technical working group were reconstituted by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, following the importance the government attached to the project.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee and technical working group, Sylva disclosed that the project will continue to remain a national priority, especially as it was conceived to be Africa’s largest gas city.
He said when completed, the park will host fertilizer, petrochemical, aluminium smelters, methanol plants and many secondary industries that would generate thousands of employments.
He stated that it was important that Nigeria continue to build Investors’ confidence, attract foreign direct investment as well as give Ogidigben Gas Industrial Revolution Park the level of executive leadership it requires.
In addition, he noted that the project would continue to be a strategic national interest that can alleviate the Niger Delta crisis and impact positively on the economy.
The minister directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to take full charge of the committee and ensure that they deliver on their Terms of Reference (ToR), because, as a result of their busy schedules, he and the co-chairman, may not be able to give the Committee full attention.
Also speaking, Director, Upstream, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Engineer Busari Kamoru, stated that the Ogidigben Industrial Gas Revolution Park project started during the administration of former Honourable Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu with the constitution of the Steering Committee and the Technical Working Group of the project.
Busari stated that the project implementation agreement was in the process of being executed, but was stalled due to unanticipated developments, while he expressed optimism that the reconstituted steering committee will see to the actualization of the project.
Membership of the Steering Committee, according to the petroleum minister are:
- Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva –
- Chairman; Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa –
- Co – Chairman; Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Adesoji Adesugba –
- Secretary; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda – Member;
- and Director (Upstream), Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Kamoru Busari, FNSE – Member.
Others include;
- Group Chief Executive, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kolo Kyari – Member;
- Ag. Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko – Member; and
- Executive General Manager, Alpha Grip Management Company (AGMC), Sheikh Mohamed Bayorh – Member.
Furthermore, the Technical Working Group has the following as members: Dr. Justice Derefaka, Technical Assistant to Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas Policy and Business Implementation) as the Project Leader; Barrister Gregory Fulus Zi, Director, Legal Services (Ministry of Petroleum Resources/Legal – Technical Working Group.
Others are representatives of Delta State Government and Alpha Grip Management Company (AGMC); technical and legal representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC); Nigerian Export Promotion Zones Authority; Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
