NCDMB calls for manufacturers as it opens Nigeria’s first oil and gas park
The Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is advertising for interested and qualified manufacturers as it opened the first oil and gas park in the country.
NCDMB Director of Corporate Communications, Engr Ginah O. Ginah, disclosed this on Thursday during a media tour of the park located in Odukpani, Cross River State.
Engr Ginah said the facility started 10 years ago and is ready for habitation.
“We have already advertised for interested manufacturers and are presently going through applications to see those who are qualified,” he added.
The NCDMB general manager of Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordination Division noted that all needed facilities have been provided to make the place conducive for the manufacturers.
He said the facilities include manufacturing hall, security, roads, 24-hour power supply, banking hall, restaurant, and state-of-the-art ICT facilities.
Others include fire service, water treatment plant, mini parks for accommodation, and free land for those who wish to build their own structures.
“All these are things that increase cost of production, so this park is going to crash the cost of production.
Engr. Ginah said the facility is located on 25 hectares of land.
“To further make the park attractive, the Federal Government has pledged $50m to attract companies to the parks.
Engr Ginah disclosed that several other such parks are under construction across the Niger Delta as part of NCDMB’s efforts to significantly increase local content in the oil and gas industry and generally drive Nigeria’s industrialisation.
“We have taken Nigeria’s local content level from 5% to 55%. The industry spends about $20 billion a year, so you are talking of about $10 billion saved annually,” Engr Ginah said.
He stressed that NCDMB’s goal is to take the local content in the industry up to 70% by 2027.
“The only way to achieve that is to ensure local manufacturing of components, which is why we are building these parks,” Ginah said.