Bayelsa State government is to broaden its economy by becoming a key player in the oil and gas sector, Governor Seriake Dickson has said.
The governor made the disclosure at the signing of a partnership agreement with United Kingdom-based Heritage Oil Plc at Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Markson-Iworiso
said his boss expressed optimism that
collaboration between the state and Heritage Oil would create employment opportunities and position Bayelsa as a key player in the industry.
State-owned Bayelsa Oil Company, said the governor, would be positioned to compete favourably with other stakeholders in both the down and up streams of the industry.
Governor Dickson lamented Bayelsa State has little to show for its pioneering role in oil exploration in Nigeria. Very few people of the state, he regretted, participate in the business.
“He therefore urged the company to bid for all assets that are currently offered for sale to broaden its asset base and explore the opportunities thrown up by the partnership to actualize the expectations of the state government and its people,” the statement said.
“You are aware that even at a time that people are divesting from oil assets in this area, no mention is made of our involvement. Today, that era of standing by and non-participation has ended. What we have signed today is going to blossom and move from strength to strength and be strong enough to compete favourably with other competitors in the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry.
“My charge to our partner and those of our people who are involved is to see that they work hard so that they actualize the dreams and expectations of our Government and people. It is our expectation that in no distant time, we will have a befitting office of the new conglomerate in Bayelsa that will employ our people and give them an opportunity to develop their skills in this sector.
“It is also our expectation that this company will bid for assets that are presently offered for sale. And let me announce to all those stake holders in the industry that for once Bayelsa State is ready for active participation in the oil and gas industry” stated Governor Dickson.
In his remarks, CEO of Heritage Oil Plc, Mr Tony Buckingham, noted that the partnership, which is worth hundreds of millions of US dollars, shall boost the economy of the state.
He lauded the efforts of Governor Dickson in expanding opportunities in the oil industry for the benefit of Bayelsans, and indicated his company’s readiness to provide funding and expertise.
“The natural resources of Bayelsa and indeed Nigeria belong to the Nigerian and Bayelsa people. These resources are to be used for the betterment of the people. They are to be used for education, healthcare and for the everyday man, woman and child in the street who had suffered and who have not had what they actually deserve.
“But I think the Governor has a passion and the desire to enable everybody within Bayelsa and also Nigeria to reap the just reward of the country’s oil reserve”, the statement quoted Buckingham as saying.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Bayelsa Oil Company, King Amalate Turner expressed delight at the agreement, which he noted was a fallout of prior meetings in Dubai, UAE, between Bayelsa State and its partner.
King Turner described the agreement as a testimony of the development strides of the Dickson administration, noting that the partnership would create job opportunities as well as boost the economy of the state.