FG to establish oil, gas equipment machinery development institute in Bayelsa

THE Federal Government is set to establish Oil and Gas Equipment Machinery Development Institute (OGEMDI) next year in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, announced this during his recent visit to the South-South zone, pointing out that the state has made important contributions in the oil and gas sector in the economy.

According to him, “the time has come for Nigerians to look inwards and develop the capacity in oil and gas exploration and processing using appropriate technologies.”

He noted that it was important for us to have a development institute that would culminate into a centre of excellence where there would be skills development in oil and gas, which would greatly enhance entrepreneurial capabilities of our citizenry.

Dr Onu said when there was research and development in oil and gas sector from the institute, products generated would help to invigorate the economy of the state and the country at large.

The minister stated that the products from OGEMDI would further provide jobs and create wealth for sustainable economic development in Nigeria.

He then assured Nigerians that the ministry was working assiduously in line with the policies of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to move the economy from the direction it had been operating on in the past 56 years.

Dr Onu also said that the oil and development institute was important now, given the fact that the research and development work that would emanate from it, would be mass-produced to meet the nation’s local needs and would be exported to other countries in the world.

In his response, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah said that Science and Technology Ministry was an important ministry that was giving the necessary drive to move the country forward.