In line with the local content policy, the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) plans to establish industrial oil and gas parks in Niger Delta, raising hopes of jobs for skilled and unskilled workers, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE.
Next year, Nigeria will join the league of countries that own oil and gas parks to manufacture components of equipment used in the sector.
The United States (US), China and United Arab Emirates (UAE), among others, have built such parks to fast-track the growth of the industrial sector of their economies.
According to the Head, Strategy and Policy Development, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Abdulmalik Halilu, no fewer than 50,000 jobs would be created from the initiative.
Skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled workers in constructing the factories are expected to benefit. Skilled and unskilled professionals in the build environmment such as tilers, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, masons and others would be employed.
Also to be hired are supervisors, factory hands, electricians, messengers. In the administration department, human resourse professionals, accountants, clerks, desk top officers, clients’ executives, marketers and others would also be employed.
According to experts, the multiplier effects of this initiative will spiral on the economy as domesticating the production of oil and gas equipment would save further capital flight and boost the gross domestic product (GDP).
Halilu said the initiative would open new vistas for skilled workers such as mechnical engineers, electrical/electronics engineers, geologists and others.
According to him, the unskilled workers are welders, drivers, and office assitants. While the engineers and geologists would would supervise the operations of the parks, drivers would handle logistics activities at the parks. They would be saddled with the responsibilites of transporting the manufactured equipment to the oil companies that place order for them.
The Federal Government plans to build the parks in Ondo, Edo, Imo, Delta, Abia, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states.
He said oil and gas industrial parks is an initiative spearheaded by the board to boost local content policy, enhance cost and efficiency of local supply chain without compromisng the standards.
It is also designed to attract social and infrastructural facilities to oil producing communities, deepen research, innovation and reduce capital flight by making operators patronise locally- made industrial equipment.
Others are technology acquisition, domicilisation of capacity training and creation of employment opportunities.
He said oil and gas parks would provide employment opportunities for people in the nine states that are designated for the project.
He said: ‘’The parks would be spread across the nine oil-producing states. Each state will provide 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Based on this, we are expecting 27,000 jobs from the nine states. More jobs are coming. Skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers would be employed in the parks. There would be youth employment, and engagement of community entrepreneurs in oil and gas value chain. Also, wealth distribution arising from park activities will restore peace in the oil producing communities.”
He said the parks would help oil and gas operators access equipment, increase the sector’s contribution to the GDP and boost the government’s industrialisation policy.
The first phase of the project entails building of primary infrastructure such as shop floors, warehouse and road network before the first quarter of next year.
“The infrastructure would support manufacturing of components of equipment the operators needed to stimulate growth. The moment infrastructure is on ground, it would easier for the parks to take-off, and create jobs for people. “There would be youth employment, engagement of community entrepreneurs in oil and gas value chain and wealth distribution. When this happens, there would be peace in the oil producing areas,’’ he added.
Last month, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources unveiled plans to establish oil and gas industrial parks in Niger Delta.
Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke said $100million would be invested in the project. Construction work would begin before December this year. The minister said the parks would provide 50,000 jobs, increase productivity, and reduce dependence on importation of equipment used by oil producing and services companies in the region.
Also, the Executive Director, NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa said job creations is one of the major objectives of the parks. Nwapa said the parks will create jobs for Nigerians, apart from providing inputs to harness hydrocarbon resources in the country. He said more jobs would be created through the local content policy, adding that the Board has initiated projects to build local capacity by ensuring that people get chance to demonstrate their skills for growth.
He said the agency has flagged off projects such as construction of shop floors, pipemills and others to boost local participation in the industry, adding that they would generate employment opportunities.
Nwakpa said: “Localisation of equipment used in the oil and gas industry will create employment opportunities and reduce capital flight in the country. Given the initiatives in the industry, the prospects of bringing more Nigerians into employment is high. One of the mandates given to the Board is to promote local initiatives and make the industry competitive.’’
He said the parks would attract foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to oil producing states and facilitate new business opportunities. This, he said, would create job’ opportunities for the people living in those states.
The Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Nigeria Limited, Mr Femi Dada said the more indigenous operators participate in the industry, the greater the employment opportunities that would open to Nigerians. Dada said creation of an enabling environment would help in developing the capacity of local operators.
He noted that there are a lot of opportunities to be tapped in the industry, adding that the country has vast oil and gas wealth that could create jobs and grow the economy if properly harnessed. He said the government’s decision to encourage local participation in the sector is good and capable of opening up employment avenues for the growing army of the jobless.
He urged companies to invest in gas plant to improve power supply, and economic activities.
