N’DELTA: Leaders predict economic buoyancy

· Make case for Buhari’s administration

·Commend Sylva for creating 35,000 jobs in Bayelsa

SOME prominent leaders in the Niger Delta region on Monday urged Nigerians to encourage the government of President Buhari in its efforts to create jobs, develop the oil-rich Niger Delta region and tackle youth unemployment in the country.

The eminent leaders also praised Buhari for his resolve to make the lives of all Nigerians better.

In a statement issued in Yenagoa the leaders praised the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva for going the extra miles, using his good office to pursue the Niger Delta cause and helping the business image of Nigeria on the international scene.

‘’Certainly, Chief Timipre Sylva has further shown that his politics is driven by character, integrity and development,’’ the leaders said.

The leaders emphasised the country’s vast endowments, revenue generation, supports for gas based industries and import substitution for methanol needs of the nation.

Highlighting why Sylva deserves commendation, the leaders pointed out the minister’s approach to the development of the oil and gas sector, foreign direct investment, economic diversification, zero gas flaring and community development

Signed by the Chairman of the Niger Delta People’s Movement (NDPM), Mrs. Ibifuro Thompson Tatua, the leaders commended the management of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and DSV Engineering for the growth of the nation’s economy.

They pointed out that the signing of the Final Investment Decision (FIB) for the construction of 10,000 tonnes/day methanol production plant by the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company LTD (BFPCL, committing equity investment of US$670m was well timed.

The construction phase is expected to create 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and additional 5,000 permanent jobs during the operations phase.

The leaders described the FID, the Gas Supply Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) led joint venture, off-take agreements and contracts for Engineering Procurement Construction and Technology Provider as another benchmark in the history of Nigeria.

‘’It is a good development that is capable of yielding a beneficial outcome’’ they said.

The statement said “the Niger Delta leaders would continue to pray for the success of the President Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”

President Buhari in July, 2020 approved the development of the Brass Gas Company with the sole aim of aggregating and monetising all stranded gas in the Brass area.