The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson says, the State Government will set up a committee to collaborate with the management of the Oil and Gas free zone Authority of Nigeria to work out a detailed plan of action for the take off of the new Brass Island Oil and Gas Free Zone.
Governor Dickson, who gave the assurance when the Management of the Authority visited him at Government House, Yenagoa, appreciated the initiative of the Federal Government in designating the oil free zone for Brass Island.
While describing the location of the venture in Brass and the time of the visit as most appropriate, he disclosed that, his administration has been doing so much to provide jobs as well as a stable environment for business to thrive.
He pointed out that, the Oil and Gas Free Zone is a major project that will transform the economy of the State as well as make the State the Dubai of Africa, which the government has over the years been working very hard to achieve.
According to him, the focus of the Government is to expand the base of the State’s economy beyond oil and gas, through the formulation of policies to attract industrialists and promote industrialisation to create wealth, job opportunities and a stable environment.
“Our focus is to expand the base of our economy beyond oil and gas. We have formulated a lot of policies to enable us expand our economy to attract industrialists and promote industrialisation; to create wealth, jobs and a stable environment for business.
“This is what Bayelans have always wanted to hear from their government. I like to use this opportunity to commend the federal government for this laudable project.
In his remarks, the MD/CEO of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority of Nigeria, Victor Alabo explained that, the authority is on a visit to intimate the State Government as well as present all the regulations and laws requesting the Governor’s permission to formalise Brass as an Oil and Gas Free Zone.
He pointed out that, the federal government has gone ahead to do all the formalities, adding that, the Governor’s role include a formal approval for the acquisition of the land for the project.
According to him, the concept of the free zone is to provide incentives for foreign direct investors to come in and do business in order to catalyse business activities and boost the economy of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.