BAYELSA STATE GOVT, OPS TO CREATE 30,000 JOBS Bayelsa State Government in partnership with the Organized Private Sector,(OPS) is set to create at least 30,000 jobs in Oil and gas and othersectors of the economy.In line with its Restoration Agenda, Government has stressed the need for aprivate sector driven economy and this has led to the proposedestablishment of a Fertilizer Plant, the Maritime Academy and Brass LNG atBrass Island, Airport, pharmaceutical products and many others in theState.This development will provide a platform for youths to acquire training andbecome employable in various aspects of the economy. To further achieve this goal, Government has entered into a bilateralagreement with a United Kingdom based Oil Company, Heritage Oil Plc andother major companies and institutions to broaden the base of the economy,generate employment and create high level skills in the State.In view of the fore-going, Governor Seriake Dickson has expressed optimismthat with the enforcement of the Federal Government’s Local ContentDevelopment Policy, the problem of unemployment would be minimized and a anenduring peace and stability will be enthroned in the State and the NigerDelta region. Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Yenagoa, Governor Seriake Dickson said the Bayelsa State is ready for activeparticipation in the oil and gas industry.Under the agreement, Heritage Oil Plc, which is listed on the London StockExchange, has an equity share of 45 per cent while Bayelsa Oil Companywould take charge of 55 per cent in the joint venture, named Petrobay. He noted that the headquarters of Petrobay would be situated in Yenagoa andwill have the capacity to compete favourably with other stakeholders bothin the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil industry.Consequently, Governor Dickson urged youths of the State to take advantageof the opportunities that these major companies would offer in the nearestfuture to better their lot. In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Oil Company, Mr.Tony Buckingham, pointed out that the partnership, which will run intohundreds of millions of dollars is targeted at developing the resources ofthe State as well as facilitate its economic wellbeing.Mr. Buckingham lauded the efforts of Governor Dickson in expanding thefrontiers of opportunities in the oil industry for the benefit of Bayelsansand indicated his company’s readiness to provide the requisite funding andexpertise.“The natural resources of Bayelsa and indeed Nigeria belong to the Nigerianand Bayelsa people. These resources are to be used for the betterment ofthe people. They are to be used for education, healthcare and for theeveryday man, woman and child in the street who had suffered and who havenot had what they actually deserve. But I think the Governor has a passionand the desire to enable everybody within Bayelsa and also Nigeria to reapthe just reward of the country’s oil reserve. Also speaking, the Managing Director of Bayelsa Oil Company, King AmalateTurner expressed delight at the signing of the MoU, which he noted was thefallout of fruitful interactions between the State and its partner thatearlier held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.Describing the agreement as a big leap in the development strides of thepresent administration, King Turner Stated that the partnership wouldbenefit the State tremendously, in the area of job creation and boostingthe internally generated revenue. Daniel Iworiso-Markson Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:46:51 +0000
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