Sixty-six years after the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State by Shell, the Federal Government has awarded the Phase-1of the Engineering, Procurement & Construction contract for Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC) in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The contract was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with a completion period of 30 months.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, February 8, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, further approved the scope of work which would include a masterpiece museum and aresearch center.
This is expected to close a major gap in the nation’s quest for home grown technology inputs required to service exploration and production activities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
The establishment of OMRC has been at concept stage for over 30 years and the inability to progress to the construction phase is viewed as an historical oversight as an operational museum and research center would preserve the heritage and developments in the oil and gas sector similar to what obtains in other oil producing nations.
Details of the project indicate that it has four development partners, comprising the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and the Bayelsa State Government (BYSG).
Each entity would contribute to the development of the monument in the ratio of 40, 30, 20 and 10 percent respectively.
The project team for the symbolic project was 9rst launched in August 2020 by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, with the inauguration of key project committees and setting of delivery timelines.
The project is approved as part of President Buhari’s signature programs that would leave behind enduring legacies, and impact the oil and gas community, the people of the Niger Delta, and the entire nation.
