The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to deploy resources from the Ecological Fund to urgently address shoreline erosion threatening a major indigenous petrochemical investment in Bayelsa State.
As reported by News Agency of Nigeria The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Oforji Oboku. According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the lawmaker warned that continued erosion at the Eraskorp Industrial Park in Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area, could undermine years of investment and jeopardise a project expected to boost Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
Oboku described the Eraskon Lubricants/Chemicals Blending Plant as a strategic private sector investment aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imported lubricants and chemical products while supporting industrialisation and economic diversification.
The facility comprises a lubricant and chemical blending plant with a production capacity of 128,000 litres per day, an aerosol manufacturing plant and a carton production factory.
The lawmaker said the project had made significant progress before severe shoreline erosion damaged the site. He noted that major equipment had been procured and installed, while several critical components were at advanced stages of completion.
According to him, the Integrated Manufacturing Complex building was about 75 per cent completed, roofing had reached 40 per cent, while base oil storage tanks were approximately 70 per cent completed before erosion destroyed the foundation piles and shoreline protection structures.
Oboku warned that the environmental damage had significantly delayed the project and placed the investment at risk.
He said abandoning the project could have serious economic consequences, noting that the facility was expected to create more than 200 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect employment opportunities upon completion.
The lawmaker added that the project would also support small and medium scale enterprises, expand local manufacturing capacity and generate additional revenue for Bayelsa State and the Federal Government.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House directed the Federal Government to instruct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to utilise the Ecological Fund for shoreline protection and erosion control works at the Eraskorp Industrial Park and surrounding communities in Gbarain.
The House also mandated its Committee on Ecological Fund to facilitate the implementation of the resolution and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.
Shoreline erosion remains a major environmental challenge in the Niger Delta, where coastal degradation, rising water levels and recurrent flooding continue to threaten homes, infrastructure and private investments.
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