The Nigerian Senate during plenary on Tuesday addressed the years long neglect of Oloibiri, the community in Bayelsa State hosting the country’s first oil field.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this follows a motion on the need to ensure immediate commencement of the Oil and Gas research centre and museum in Oloibiri.
The motion moved by Senator Degi-Eremienyo Biobarakuma was supported by Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe.
“I rise to support this motion because of its economical, social and technological advantages,” Senator Oloriegbe said.
Contributing to the motion, Senator George Sekibo asserted that “the story of Oloibiri is a story of negligence by people who benefitted from the system and abandoned the system”.
The Senate thereafter commended the federal government for conceptualizing, designing and awarding the contract for the establishment of the Oil and Gas research centre and museum in Oloibiri.
The Senate further urged the federal government to give priority attention to the development of heritage institutions such as the Oloibiri Oil and Gas research centre and museum as a constant reminder and enrichment of the history of the country’s socio-economic development.
The Senate also urged the federal government to direct the PTDF and the concerned contractors to mobilize to site, commence the immediate construction of the Oil and Gas research centre and museum at Oloibiri.
The Senate also directed relevant Senate Committees to carry out intensive oversight on the implementation of this project.
The aim of the Oil and Gas research centre and museum is to promote tourism and improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.