$16billion EPZ To Take Off Soon, As FG Delegation Visits Delta

Delta State Governor, senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Executive General Manager, Alpha Grip Management and Co, Sheikh Baorh and Oyesola Oyerunle, during a courtesy call on the Governor by the Executive General Manager and his Team, in Government House Asaba.

The Industrial Gas Park component of the $16billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project to be sited in Delta state by the federal government would soon take off as a Steering Committee on the project visits Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Monday.

The leader of delegation led by Sheikh Mohamed Bayorh, Executive General Manager, Alpha Grip Management Company, said they came to meet with stakeholders in the project to share ideas and present their road map on how to start and deliver the project according to specification.

BigPen Online recalls that the ground-breaking of the project located in Ogidigben, Warri South West Council Area was performed by former President Goodluck Jonathan after several postponements in March 2015.

Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, is reputed to be the largest gas project in sub-Saharan Africa. Contentiously, the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project is said to have two components; the industrial gas park at Ogidigben and the deep sea port at Gbaramatu.

Receiving the delegation at Government House Asaba on Monday, Governor Okowa called for speedy take off of the project, stating that the gas sector holds a lot of prospects for the economic development of the country.

Okowa said that the Ogidigben Industrial Gas Park would serve as a litmus test for the development of the gas road map in the country.

“It is my hope that this project starts in earnest because it has been delayed for long, we need to fast track the project as it has been on the drawing board for too long and investors’ confidence is being affected, this project holds a lot of prospect for us as a state and for the nation.

“We are truly ready to have reforms in the gas sector, it will aid our economic development, not only in harnessing our gas reserve but also providing jobs for our teeming youths.”

He added, “this project is the litmus test for the development of the gas roadmap in the country”

Governor Okowa however assured that “the state is ready to provide the needed environment to ensure that the project begins immediately in order to build confidence among the investors and the community that have provided us with the land”, pledging the state government’s support for the development of the gas policy and road map of the investors.

Earlier, Sheikh Mohamed Bayorh said the project would create jobs, bring about tangible development in the state/country and called on all stakeholders to work together to achieve this feat stating that the company is committed to ensuring that the project becomes a reality in no distant time.

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