Former President Goodluck Jonathan has encouraged Niger Delta youths, particularly those in Bayelsa State to embrace productive activities that will bring investors to the state.
The former president gave the advice during the groundbreaking ceremony of the ERASKON Integrated manufacturing complex and lubricant product launch, in Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
Jonathan, while performing the product’s launch advised them not to become obstacles to the development brought by investors seeking to build businesses in the state.
He also commended the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for creating the enabling environment that has attracted investors to invest massively in the state.
According to him, “The short time I was governor, I spoke with a lot of Nigerian investors to come invest in the state, and even offer some inducement to them if they can come and invest in the state because the only way you can create jobs for citizens of the state is to industrialise. They all refused after given reasons on how they won’t get their returns.
“I knew that one day, they will come and invest to open up the state, and that is what we are witnessing today. Diri is a lucky person.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Simbi Wabote said the groundbreaking ceremony was another very important milestone that is in line with the agency’s mandate to develop local capacity in the oil and gas sector.
Wabote, who spoke on behalf of the agency and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said that Nigeria currently consumes about 250 million litres of engine oils per annum.
He explained that Nigeria’s consumption grows at more than 5 per cent every year due to the addition of new vehicles and machinery.
The NCDMB boss further commended the vision of ERASKON management in setting up the lubricant plant which he said will provide jobs for citizens and also directed the use of the newly commissioned oil and lubricants for all NCDMB vehicles.
The plant is expected to produce 64,000 litres of lubricants per day including engine oils, transmission fluids, hydraulic fluids, specialized four-wheel-drive products, engine coolants and speciality products such as waxes.
