NCDMB Signs Construction Contract with Julius Berger for Oloibiri Museum Project
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has officially executed the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with Julius Berger PLC for the development of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC) in Otuabagi, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The signing ceremony took place at the NCDMB liaison office in Abuja, marking a significant step forward in the project set to be delivered within 30 months.
The OMRC is being funded collaboratively by the Petroleum Development Technology Fund (PTDF), NCDMB, Shell Petroleum Development Company/Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, and the Bayelsa State Government. Their financial contributions are apportioned in a 40:30:20:10 ratio, respectively. The project operates under a registered guarantee structure, with these organizations serving as partners.
Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB and chairman of the registered project company, signed the agreement on behalf of the partners. The contract was also endorsed by Julius Berger PLC, ensuring construction activities are now set to commence.
The OMRC was first initiated under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with the EPC contract awarded to Julius Berger in February 2023 for a sum of ₦117 billion. The groundbreaking ceremony for the museum took place shortly after, attended by government officials, oil and gas industry leaders, and community members.
Engr. Ogbe expressed his excitement at the contract’s execution, emphasizing the potential economic benefits the project will bring to Bayelsa State and the national economy during both its construction and operational phases. He also acknowledged the contributions of various stakeholders and reaffirmed the project’s goal of honoring the birthplace of Nigeria’s commercial hydrocarbon production, which began in 1958.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has expressed strong support for the initiative, with Ogbe noting that the project’s realization reflects the President’s commitment to fostering multi-sectoral collaborations for impactful national projects.
The OMRC is envisioned as a world-class facility that will celebrate Nigeria’s oil and gas history. The museum will feature exhibits on the origins of crude oil production in the country, including geological formations, early equipment, tools, and platforms that shaped the industry.
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Beyond the museum, the OMRC will include a research and testing center designed to advance indigenous oil and gas technologies. It will provide a venue for field trials of prototypes developed through local research and serve as an educational hub for university students in oil and gas-related disciplines.
The facility aims to foster the commercialization of research, develop homegrown technologies, and create a thriving ecosystem for innovation in oil and gas operations. Additionally, the museum and research center are expected to generate a new commercial value chain and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.
As construction begins, the project is poised to become a landmark for both the region and the country, symbolizing Nigeria’s progress in the oil and gas sector and its commitment to harnessing indigenous innovation for sustainable development.
