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- Lokpobiri inspects project site, commends Julius Berger
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Federal Government has pledged its commitment to complete the construction of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre OMRC) project at Oloibiri, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
This is even as the contractor, Julius Berger, has assured that it remains determined to deliver the landmark project.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vow to complete the project by 2028 during an inspection of the site, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work.
Lokpobiri described the project as a monumental project capable of preserving the historical records of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and attracting visitors from within and outside the country.
The Minister recalled that the project had been on the drawing board for decades without any concrete action before the All Progressives Congress-led administration made significant steps to bring the project to reality.
He said the project had been on the drawing board for decades before the present administration renewed efforts to bring it to reality.
“I am very happy that I came today to see what is going on here. This is a masterpiece. The main building itself is over 10,000 square metres,” the minister said.
Lokpobiri said the facility would enable Nigerians and international visitors to understand how the country’s oil and gas industry started, its development over the years, the challenges it encountered and its prospects for the future.
He noted that several countries were interested in learning from Nigeria’s experience in the petroleum industry, stressing that the museum would provide a central location where such visitors could access historical materials and research on the sector.
The minister also said the completed facility would provide much-needed space for oil and gas exhibitions, conferences and retreats, noting that the country lacked sufficient facilities capable of accommodating large-scale industry events.
He said the centre could become a major venue for oil and gas retreats, where participants would have the opportunity to combine their meetings with tours of the museum and research facilities.
Lokpobiri disclosed that about N70bn had been paid for the first phase of the project, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to fulfil its financial obligations to ensure that construction was not delayed.
The Project Manager, Botha de Bruyn, also reaffirmed the contractor’s steadfast commitment to delivering the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre according to the approved designs, specifications and project schedule.
De Bruyn said the contractor remained fully committed to the successful completion of the project and would continue to work closely with the Federal Government, project management team, host community and other stakeholders to overcome challenges that could affect delivery.
According to him, the contractor recognises the historical importance of the project and the responsibility attached to constructing a facility that will preserve the story of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for future generations.
The OMRC Project Director, Architect Ladipo Lewis, said the museum was designed to recognise Oloibiri as the birthplace of Nigeria’s oil exploration and development.
He explained that the project would document the history, culture, environment, technology, tourism and heritage of Oloibiri while capturing developments across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry.
