The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has approved the proposal made by former President Shehu Shagari for the construction and building of Oil and Gas Museum in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State.

Based on this, Federal Executive Council (FEC) is expected to give final approval for the release of funds for the take off of the project.

In a letter by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr. Emeka Eze, dated July 17, 2012 to the Director General of the PTDF, the Due Process office reduced the price quotations for the construction of the Oil and Gas Museum from N36,315 billion to N33,949 billion. It also approved the award of the contract to seven contracting firms.

The cost estimates is to cover the following areas for the Oil and Gas Museum; Research Centre, International Conference Centre, Sand Filling and Civil Works, External Maintenance, External Electrical Works, Site Clearance, Geotechnical Survey and Fencing. Seven oil and gas companies bided and won the contract for the constructing and building of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum.

In the letter to the PTDF, the Director General of BPP directed that efforts be hastened towards the construction of the Oil and Gas Museum by ensuring that the contractors that passed the bidding processes submit valid Performance Bonds issued from reputable banks as a pre-condition for the final award of the contracts in order to ensure successful completion of the museum on time.

The Oil and Gas Museum is aimed at generating revenue by ensuring that the funds earmarked for overseas training for oil and other allied workers and other necessary conferences take place in Nigeria, while at the same time ensure the sustainable development of the eco-system of Oloibiri, where oil was first struck in 1956 by the Dutch Oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company.

Ijaw elders and youth leaders have been commending the Federal Government for fast-tracking the construction of the Oil and Gas Museum as one of the best ways of developing and sustaining the Oloibiri Oil Wells that have dried up.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ptdf-okays-n33-945bn-for-oil-and-gas-museum-in-oloibiri/124567/

All these token gestures sef! It's too little, too late.....and the 33 billion naira (about $200 million) would have been better spent in the provision of a world class primary and secondary school (which would attract outsiders and stimulate the local economy), a good road linking the village to the outside world, a well equipped health centre, and some low cost housing.

How will this project impact positively on the lifes of the villagers?......who is going to leave the comfort of the city, to travel down to Oloibiri to spend a day at the oil and gas museum (of all places )?

Gimme a break! It's just more money for the boys to chop.