NCDMB, Julius Berger sign contract for museum project in Bayelsa
On Thursday, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board signed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with Julius Berger PLC to develop the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre.The museum will be located in Otuabagi, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
According to a statement released by the NCDMB Corporate Communications Department, the contract was signed by the board's Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, at the board's Abuja liaison office. The project is expected to be completed within 30 months.
According to the statement, the OMRC is funded by the Petroleum Development Technology Fund, NCDMB, Shell Petroleum Development Company/Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, and the Bayelsa State Government, each contributing 40%, 30%, 20%, and 10%.
"The project is registered by guarantee, with the four organizations acting as partners. The partners have approved the contract agreement, which has been signed by Julius Berger PLC," the statement read.
The contract was signed on behalf of the partners by the NCDMB's Executive Secretary, who also serves as Chairman of the registered company overseeing the project. M. Naboth Onyesoh, Director of Legal Services at the NCDMB, also serves as the company's Secretary.
In February 2023, the Muhammadu Buhari administration awarded Julius Berger the EPC contract for the OMRC at a cost of N117 billion. The groundbreaking ceremony took place the same month, drawing top government officials, oil and gas stakeholders, and community members.
Ogbe expressed delight at the contract signing, which marked the official start of construction activities. He stated that the project would provide significant economic benefits to Bayelsa State and the nation during its construction and operation phases.
Ogbe thanked the project partners and stakeholders for their contributions to the project's success. He explained that the museum was created to commemorate the origins of Nigeria's hydrocarbon industry, which began in 1958.
He also stated that President Bola Tinubu supports the project, which he considers to be long overdue, and that multi-level government and private-sector collaboration has been critical to its successful completion.
The statement continued, "The OMRC project is expected to deliver a world-class oil and gas museum showcasing the history of crude oil production in Nigeria, including geological formations, early equipment, tools, and platforms used in the industry's evolution."
"In addition, the research and testing center will provide facilities for field trials of indigenous oil and gas research prototypes, allowing university students studying oil and gas disciplines to gain a better understanding of local technological advancements.
"The OMRC will also help to commercialize research by establishing an ecosystem for developing homegrown oil and gas technology. Furthermore, it will create new commercial value chains through museum and research activities, providing job opportunities for Nigerians."
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