Nembe-Brass Road, open to benefits in deep sea oil fields – Bayelsa Govt
The Bayelsa Government says the construction of the ongoing Nembe-Brass Road is to harness the potentials in the deep sea oil fields for economic prosperity.
Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), stated this on Friday at the Bayelsa Media Summit with the theme: Media, Culture and Identity, Promoting Indigenous Perspectives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ayawei spoke on the topic: Setting a Media Agenda for Assured Prosperity.
The SSG said that in spite of the enormous maritime potentials of Bayelsa, including over 200 kilometres coastline, the state was yet to have them translated into economic benefits for the people of the state.
According to him, the lack of access road to Brass Oil Export Terminal had deprived the state of enormous economic benefits, including Pay as You Earn taxes by oil workers at the Brass Terminal.
He explained that lack of infrastructure had compelled oil services companies to operate from neighbouring Rivers and Delta States.
The SSG noted that the state was poised to exploit the comparative advantage of proximity to offshore oil fields by creating the conducive environment for oil and gas related businesses to thrive.
He explained that the geographical location of Bayelsa places the state in proximity to offshore oilfields like Bonga and Egina Fields.
Ayawei said that the state was aggressively pursuing the road project to harness economic potentials of the blue economy and the offshore oilfields.
“We are deliberately working to hit the Atlantic Ocean by road to unlock the benefits of the Atlantic from Brass.
“Currently, the oilfields are serviced from either Port Harcourt or Osubi Airports for air logistics.
“For marine services, typical vessels destined for the oilfields take between three hours and seven hours from either Warri or Port Harcourt but from Brass in Bayelsa it takes between one and half hours to get to the oilfields.
“It makes a lot of sense, therefore, to connect Brass by road to unlock the maritime potentials and this explains why Bayelsa created the Ministry of Blue Economy,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu-led administration for collaborating with Bayelsa Government in funding the second phase of the Nembe-Brass Road.
NAN reports that the Media Summit, put together by the Bayelsa Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, attracted over 400 media practitioners.
The summit featured lectures and panel session on contemporary issues in media practice in Bayelsa. (NAN)
