Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said his administration would make Bayelsa the Houston of Nigeria and Africa.
According to him, being the historical headquarters of oil and gas in Nigeria and Africa, Bayelsa deserves to be the Houston of Nigeria and Africa.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, said Dickson spoke on Tuesday during a session with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the Onshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, United States.
The governor stressed that making Bayelsa the Houston of Africa is possible if the NNPC GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru, and critical players in the oil and gas sector, collaborate with his government.
According to him, Bayelsa has over 30 per cent of the gas reserve in Nigeria, and for anyone thinking investment in gas, “Bayelsa is the place to go, there is no doubt about that, which is why we are here to market that comparative advantage to the investing world”.
He said: “Bayelsa State is safe, peaceful and ready for business. Our government has created the conducive and enabling environment for investments to flourish, including investments in the oil and gas sector. We were here last year and we had fruitful deliberations which sharpened our perspectives. On returning home, we took steps and we are here this time to market Bayelsa as the world’s best kept investment secret to the global investing community especially in oil and gas.
“We have started an Eco-Industrial City. So if you are interested in using gas for industrialisation, where to go to is Bayelsa. We are building a Deep Sea Port and we’ve got to provide power. We are building a power hub, a new Yenagoa City, we are building an International Airport and a host of other initiatives that will be attractive to investors.
“We have a dream of working with the NNPC and other players to make the state the Houston of oil and gas in Nigeria and in Africa. Bayelsa is historically the headquarters of oil and gas in Nigeria, and in Africa, and working with the NNPC GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru and his team, and with the support of everyone else, Bayelsa surely will be the Houston of Nigeria and Africa.”