By Sandra Kenneth
The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and save a multi-billion-naira indigenous petrochemical project in Bayelsa State from being washed away by severe shoreline erosion.
Lawmakers urged the government to tap into the Ecological Fund to finance critical protection works at the Eraskorp Industrial Park, located in Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Oforji Oboku, the member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency.
Critical Industrial Infrastructure at Risk
Addressing the chamber, Oboku warned that unchecked coastal degradation threatens to destroy years of private sector investment and derail key efforts to boost Nigeria’s domestic manufacturing sector.
At the center of the crisis is the Eraskon Lubricants and Chemicals Blending Plant—a facility designed to significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported lubricants and chemical products.
“The Eraskon project is a strategic private-sector investment aimed at promoting local manufacturing, reducing dependence on imported lubricants, and advancing Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda,” Oboku said.
The industrial complex features:
- A Lubricant & Chemical Blending Plant: Daily production capacity of 128,000 liters.
- An Aerosol Manufacturing Plant
- A Dedicated Packaging Factory for carton production.
Oboku revealed that construction was already at an advanced stage before severe erosion compromised the facility’s foundations.
Key damage includes structural losses, while major delays stem from ongoing work being halted.
The lawmaker warned that abandoning or losing the facility to environmental degradation would deal a massive blow to the local and national economy.
Upon completion, the facility is projected to generate over two hundred direct jobs and over one thousand indirect employment opportunities, boost business activity for local SMEs and enhance revenue generation for both Bayelsa state and the federal government.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to deploy resources from the Ecological Fund for immediate intervention works. The House Committee on Ecological Fund has been tasked to report back within six weeks for further legislative oversight.
