From Muhammad Ahmad saka, Bauchi
The Resident Cement Company, has agreed to sponsor indigenes of Bauchi state to study Chinese language in order to work with the Chinese firm that will establish a cement factory in Gwana area of Bauchi state.
The State Commissioner, Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Alhaji Mohammed Maiwada Bello said this when he interacted with reporters in Bauchi.
He said already, the Bauchi State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth $1.5 billion with a renowned cement company, Resident Cement Company, to establish a massive cement production plant in the state.
He said The company is expected to produce 10 million tonnes of cement annually, and will also construct a 100-150 megawatt electricity plant, and a 3000 truck parking space, among other social amenities, to support the project, which will benefit not only the company but also the host community and the state at large.
The Commissioner said the project will not only generate employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths but will also stimulate economic growth and development in the NorthEast region.
He said Governor Bala Mohammed has approved the construction of a 12 billion Naira 78 kilometer Road and Bridge from Yalo to ease road transportation and to create a more enabling environment for investors in the area.
On the oil exploration in the area, the commissioner said the State will join the association of host communities where oil and gas are produced as part of effort to ensure successful oil exploration as contained in Petroleum Industry Act, PIA 2021 which gave the host community some recognition.
He said the company pledged to continue work and make progress within the first quarter of 2025.
The Commissioner said Governor Bala Mohammed has pledged to give all the needed support to the company to succeed.
You would recall that In 2019, the Nigerian government announced a significant oil discovery in the border region between Bauchi and Gombe states. The discovery was made in the Gongola Basin, also known as the Upper Benue Trough.
Under the PIA Act, the host communities are critical to oil and gas production because oil pipelines and other installations run through their lands, farms, and streams.
However, the federal government and oil companies have often exploited these communities without developing the infrastructure in the area.
The Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Host Communities Development Regulations 2022 attempt to give host communities some recognition.
This recent development focuses more on the social and economic advantage of being an oil producing area.
