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By: Eyo Eyoa
The Akwa Ibom, Cross River Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board NCDMB, Dr Uduak Obot, has commended Gov Otu for the tireless efforts made to ensure that Cross River State regains its status as oil producing state.
The Zonal Coordinator made the commendation in Eket, Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday August 6th, 2024 when the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Local Content, Ambassador Awatt Caleb Ekpenyong, paid him a courtesy visit.
Obot noted that “Cross River State counts among oil producing states but was delisted from oil and gas league in what analyst described as political blunder”
Continuing, the Zonal Coordinator averred that “The state did not only lost it’s status in oil and gas production but lost the Bakassi peninsula and 76 oil wells and carried the stigma of non- litoral in the biase National Boundary Commission NBC”.
The NCDMB Zonal Coordinator who praised Governor Otu for the new status of the state however promised to assist the Cross River State Office of Local Content in actualizing it’s vision in the oil and gas downstream sector of the state economy.
He stated that with current efforts aimed at expanding oil and gas fortune in the state, there’s need to encourage host and catchment communities cooperation with industries in a scale that is mutually beneficial.
On the Odukpani oil and gas industrial park, Dr Uduak Obot expressed optimism that the industrial park will be commissioned next year.
He added that when completed, it will serve local needs in the manufacture of oil and gas components as well as in create employment opportunities.
“We will assist you. I will send you guidelines that will help you”. Said Mr Ubot.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to Governor Otu on Local Content, Ambassador Awatt Caleb Ekpenyong said he was in Eket, Akwa Ibom State NCDMB Zonal Office, on facts finding and sued for more areas of bilateral cooperation.
Amb Caleb noted “Am I’m delighted to meet with you sir. My visit is facts finding to guide my part in the desire to achieving value for local content in Cross River”.
Awatt used the opportunity to seek for support and collaboration to enable him add value to the government of Sen Bassey Otu.
