Rep Ereyitomi makes strong case for immediate commencement of EPZ project in Delta – The Liberator
Meanwhile, after much deliberations on the matter, the house resolved and urged the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to present a blueprint for the workability of the Export Processing Zone, Ogidigben to the House within 3 weeks.
The house also mandated the Committee on Gas Resources to investigate and unravel the reasons why the construction of the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone Project is yet to commence and report back within three 3 weeks for further legislative action.
The motion was sent to newsmen in Abuja, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspaper by Comr. Seth Douperegha, Personal Assistant, PA to Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, member representing Warri Federal Constituency, House of Representatives.
The motion reads in full below:
12. Need to Investigate the Contentious Delay in Contracting the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), Ogidigben and the Deep Sea Port at Gbaramatu:
Rep. Thomas Ereyitomi:
The House:
Notes that in 2015, the Federal Government carried out the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Ogidigben in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State which is to comprise an Industrial Gas hub and a Deep Sea Port at Gbaramatu;
Also notes that over 400 hectares of land was acquired and cleared for the purpose of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), to accommodate a major Industrial Gas hub, Petrochemical, Methanol as well as Fertilizer within the industrial park;
Aware that the project was to contribute to the diversification of the Nation’s economy and boost the agricultural, manufacturing and solid minerals sectors through proper harnessing and exploitation of the abundant gas reserves available in the area and attract foreign direct investments, open up a lot of opportunities for industrial growth and attract huge foreign earnings for the economy;
Worried that since the groundbreaking ceremony, the construction of the Industrial Gas Project which will be the biggest gas producer in sub-Saharan Africa capable of providing over 100,000 direct jobs at the construction stage and over 450,000 jobs at the completion stage for the teeming youths in the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general is yet to commence;
Disturbed that the huge local and foreign direct investment potentials that the project ought to have attracted to the region, coupled with the much-needed technological transfer benefits that would have accrued to the country are all stalled;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to present a blueprint for the workability of the Export Processing Zone, Ogidigben to the House within 3 weeks;
(ii) Mandate the Committee on Gas Resources to investigate and unravel the reasons why the construction of the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone Project is yet to commence and report back within three 3 weeks for further legislative action.
Debate
Rep. Ereyitomi moved the motion on the need to investigate the contentious delay in contracting the export processing zone (EPZ), Ogidigben and the deep seaport at Gbaramatu, Delta state and it was seconded by Rep. Abass Adekunle. As an investigative motion, it was voted on and adopted.
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