NCDMB awards eight contracts for oil & gas parks development

*Simbi Kesiye-Wabote

Port Harcourt - The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has signed and awarded eight contracts for the development of ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme, NOGAPS projects in Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

The beneficiary contractors, according to NCDMB, are O.K. Isokariari & Sons Limited, Megastar Technical and Construction Company Limited, EST Masters Ltd, Altex Construction Ltd, Faithplant Construction Ltd, Erdis Construction Company Ltd, and Linzo Construction Ltd.

Three contracts will be carried out at the Bayelsa park situated in Ogbia and, they include the construction of hostels, blocks, mini-park estate, construction of security and administration block and construction of capacity building center.

Similarly, two of the projects will be executed at the park located at Ikwe, Onna Local Government Area of Ibom State and they entail the landfill and fence works of the 31hectares of land mapped out for the project.

While, four projects have been penciled down for the Cross River state park, located at Odukpani and they include the construction of security and administrative blocks, erection of capacity building centers, construction of internal roads, drainage system, hostels, and mini-park estate.

Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, at the contract signing event in Yenagoa, explained that NOGAPS was conceived to develop facilities close to oil fields where manufacturing of oil and gas components can be carried out.

Wabote commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for approving the award of the contracts and underscored the key roles played by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in driving the projects so far.

He expressed optimism that the delivery of the contracts will help to further develop the contractors’ capacities as well as the communities hosting the industrial parks while advising the contractors to build the capacities of indigenes of the host communities to participate in the projects.

“NOGAPS as the Board’s flagship project is in line with the mandate to develop indigenous capacities for the oil and gas industry, by creating the enabling environment for in-country domiciliation of manufacturing and fabrication of oil and gas components.

“The seven successful contractors are wholly indigenous firms, the Board is practicing Local Content in its projects. The contracts include provisions for hiring a minimum of 80 percent of all unskilled labour from the host and immediate communities for the project implementation.

“A minimum of 50percent of the semi-skilled and 20 percent of the skilled labour requirements are also expected to be sourced from the host and immediate communities, except where there is no response to such advertised positions from the community. Community suppliers shall be included in the supply of sand, granite, water, fuel, and other items as determined by the contractor. Such supplies shall be to the quality required and of fair market price.”

The NCDMB boss further charged the contractors to ensure safety and security at the sites and promote a cordial and harmonious relationship with the host communities as well as with other contractors on site.

He pledged to organise sessions with the respective host communities where the contractors would be formally introduced to key stakeholders.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, the Managing Director of Megastar Technical and Construction Company Limited, Mr. Harcourt Adukeh, commended NCDMB for the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the oil and gas parks.

Adukeh expressed optimism that several stakeholders will benefit if the parks are developed and operated as envisaged, assuring that the contractors would keep to the terms of their contract and collaborate amongst themselves in the delivery of their various scopes.