The Bayelsa State Government on Monday met with the management of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company in a bid to resolve a number of issues bordering on crude oil production output within the state and the country generally, as well as the challenges being faced by the company.
Other issues raised at the meeting presided over by Governor Seriake Dickson, included the broken down power plant, provided by Agip that has been supplying electricity to the 3 communities on the Brass Island in Brass local government area of the state which are Ewoama, Okpoama and Twon Brass.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting with officials of the state government and that of AGIP in Government House, Yenagoa, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (retired), urged Nigerian Agip Oil Company to consider utilizing local content in the repair of some of its facilities.
Expressing confidence in the capabilities of local technicians, the Deputy Governor underscored the need for the oil company to utilize them in order to build their potential.
According to him, the problem of power outage on the Brass Island has been a recurrent issue during Executive Council meetings, as it was hampering socio-economic activities in the area.
Commending the Nigerian Agip Oil Company for the provision of power to Brass Island for over 20 years as well as other social amenities, Retired Rear Admiral John Jonah explained that, the company has promised to provide electricity generating sets to serve as a stop gap measure, pending when repairs would be carried out on the broken down gas turbine power plant.
Also in an interview with media men, the Public Affairs Divisional Manager of Agip, Mr. Deineiruo Dan-Jumbo said about 5 months ago the generating set supplying power to the 3 communities went bad.
According to him, the company’s inability to get the manufacturers to come to the state to carry out the repairs on the plant was responsible for the long power outage in the area, but however, assured that, measures were being put in place to provide electricity before the Christmas period. ###
Isaac Moni-Yenagoa
