Governor Udom Emmanuel has assured that about 5,500 youths will be employed at the commencement of operations of Seven Oil Fields handled by NPDC/ NOSL located in the state by the end of 2022.
Governor Emmanuel made this known during an inspection of NPDC & NOSL Oil & Gas Exploration in OML-13 site, at Atabrikang Fields, Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the pace of work ongoing at the project site executed in partnership with Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) and Natural Oil field Service Limited (NOSL), a subsidiary of Sterling oil.
The Governor who assured the people of Eastern Obolo of commencing operations at the Oil Fields, where oil will be drilled by the end of 2022, pointed out that the project will stir up a robust economic chain to the advantage of youths in the community and thanked the implementing partners for their cooperation towards actualising the project.
“Today was for me to come and assess the level of work done, most times when we make statements because people are so used to political statements they probably thought that we were just talking politics, I believe that today Eastern Obolo has seen tremendous progress.
“Let me appreciate our partners in this progress I am shocked by the level of work. You can see within a short period we have developed Seven Oil Fields already, you can see the floatation station, the storage station and the flow lines of the crude oil”, he stated.
The Chief Executive advised youths in the area to cooperate with the state government and the companies by maintaining a peaceful environment in order to aid the speedy completion of the project, which will open the area for economic activities.
“I want to plead through the Paramount Ruler and the stakeholders, let the youths cooperate with me, I can bet by the time we start the full refinery the youths will be employed over 5,500.
“We have made a promise to start floatation by the end of 2022, once we start floatation a lot of benefits will follow”, the governor assured.
In his remark, the Managing Director, NPDC, Ali Zarah, thanked Akwa Ibom State Government for a peaceful atmosphere to operate as a company and assured of bringing development to the community as well as mutual benefits for all.
Also in his remark, the Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Oil, Mr. Mohit Barot, stated that the company has created over 1000 jobs for youths in the area, and assured of completing the project, adding that Sterling Oil is active in 18 locations and operational at Eastern Obolo, ONNA and Mkpat Enin local government areas.
Member representing Ikot Abasi/ Mkpat Enin/ Eastern Obolo in the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Uduyok, in a goodwill message thanked Governor Emmanuel for making the project a reality, and expressed satisfaction with the performance of the companies.
He assured of cooperation from the host communities and peaceful atmosphere for the success of the project.
