Opportunities: oil and gas park creates 2000 plus new Jobs in Cross Rivers State.

 Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Control Board (NCDMB), Eng Simbi Wabote, revealed that more than 2,000 new jobs would be created after the completion of the oil and gas park in Cross River State by 2020.

Wabote said this during the inauguration ceremony of the multi-billion naira park at the Onimankiong community in the Odukpani local government area.

According to him, in the oil and gas sector, the ceremony was not only a beginning, but a start of the project, because the work begins immediately on the extent of 25 hectares.

His words: "More than 2,000 new jobs should be created when this park kick starts in Odukpani and in the state of Cross River as a whole.

This is different from the people who will be involved in the construction of the site. "2000 direct jobs and spinoffs of 2000 more would be created here when the plant becomes operational. What the community needs to do is work with us and ensure that work is completed quickly because we are not abandoning the projects.

"This is a multi-billion dollar project that will lead to unprecedented growth and development in the community and beyond, which is an important step in the implementation of a flagship project.

This is the first of its kind in the Niger Delta and we are committed to ensuring it is completed on time.

"This will create opportunities and develop the capacity of the local support chain and boost the country's economy, from here, we would be creating the equipment, spare parts and others that will be used in the oil and gas industry.

The Executive Secretary who called for the cooperation of the community and state government to speed up the construction of the park urged all parties to support and cooperate with them.

He said that the construction work would be suspended without the youth of the community asking for it because the agency did not come to exploit the resources of the community but to build a facility where the technical workers of the industry oil and gas industry would be qualified.

He urged them to see the project as theirs and make sure he succeeds by adding that if they receive a form of threat, impediment and resistance from them, they will stop working without excuses.

"This will create opportunities for young people from the community and the state, builds the capacity of the local support chain, and boosts the country's economy because from here we would be creating equipment, spare parts and more that will be used in oil and gas industry of Nigeria.

"We also want to ensure that locals who are in the community are transported because we will make sure they have the ability to work in the park when it is completed in 2020.

It's up to you (communities) to see us as your own and as partners in progress, "he said.

Speaking also, Professor Ivara Esu, the vice governor of the state said that the state is ready to partner with the agency to ensure a peaceful environment and the rapid completion of the work.

"We will also be part of the monitoring team, ensuring that the work is done with speed and that the procedures are followed, it is our project and we will treat it as such," he disclosed.