By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, Izzi Yakiah, has called on the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to quickly set up machinery to facilitate the speedy completion of all abandoned oil and gas projects in Bayelsa State in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The APC chieftain noted that what the people of Bayelsa State really wants is to see the minister’s positive impact particularly in ensuring that all abandoned oil and gas related projects attracted to the state by the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, HMSPR, Chief Timipre Sylva are completed.

Yakiah, who stated this in a press statement made available to newsmen against the background of the minister’s recent visit to the some of the projects sites in Brass Local Government Area of the state, said what behooves the current minister is not to apportioned blames or make accusations but to ensure that all issues relating to the projects are resolved.

He described the allegations in some quarters that $35million appropriated for the 2000bpd
Atlantic Modular Refinery have been diverted as unnecessary distraction and a calculated attempt to discredit the efforts of the former former HMSPR who worked so hard to attract critical oil and gas investments that would ensure value addition to the crude oil, products sufficiency, create jobs opportunities for young people and curb pipeline vandalism in the area.

The APC chieftain who is also National Coordinator of Niger Delta Media Activists Group and Excellent Leadership Foundation, noted that some of the projects were conceived and solely relied on counter part funding to be fully completed.

He said: “I want to appealed to the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to adopt dialogue to resolve the issues surrounding the abandoned oil and gas projects in Brass Island and also initiate steps that will ensure speedy completion of the projects attracted by hsi predecessor Chief Timipre Sylva.

“I want to acknowledged the dedication of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri in the nation’s oil industry and also thank President Bola Tinubu for the recent signing of the Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) for the $3.5 billion Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Project in Bayelsa state at the instance of Shell Petroleum Development Company and its partners.

“I want to also advised the Minister to find a solution to the demand of Bayelsa people to have more federal government projects in the State and avoid faults finding and witch-hunting but redirect his energy towards bringing dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria inline with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”