The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently deploy resources from the Ecological Fund to address shoreline erosion threatening a major indigenous petrochemical investment in Bayelsa State.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved on Tuesday by the lawmaker representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Oforji Oboku.
While presenting the motion, Oboku cautioned that the continued erosion affecting the Eraskorp Industrial Park in Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area, could jeopardise years of investment and stall a project expected to strengthen Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
He described the Eraskon Lubricants/Chemicals Blending Plant as a significant private-sector investment intended to promote local production, reduce the country’s dependence on imported lubricants and chemical products, and support industrialisation and economic diversification.
He said, “The Eraskon Lubricants/Chemicals Blending Plant Project is an indigenous investment in the petrochemical industry located at the Eraskorp Industrial Park, Gbarain, Bayelsa State.
It is a strategic private-sector investment aimed at promoting local manufacturing, reducing dependence on imported lubricants and chemical products, and advancing Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic diversification agenda.”
The lawmaker explained that the industrial facility comprises a lubricant and chemical blending plant with a daily production capacity of 128,000 litres, alongside an aerosol manufacturing plant and a carton production factory.
According to Oboku, substantial progress had already been made on the project before shoreline erosion disrupted construction, with critical infrastructure nearing completion and major equipment already procured and installed.
He told the House that “before the devastating impact of shoreline erosion, the project had recorded significant progress, with major equipment procured and key infrastructure at advanced stages of completion.”
Oboku noted that the worsening environmental damage has delayed the project and now threatens its survival.
“Severe shoreline erosion has caused extensive damage to the project site, delayed the project, and threatens the viability of this important national investment,” he added.
He further informed lawmakers that the Integrated Manufacturing Complex, which was about 75 per cent complete, had to be dismantled after erosion exposed and destroyed its foundation piles and shoreline protection structures.
He also disclosed that almost all the process equipment required for the facility had already been delivered, while several major components of the project were close to completion before erosion intensified.
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He added, “All process equipment for the plant has already been procured and is on site. The Integrated Manufacturing Complex building superstructure is 75 per cent completed, the roofing of the building is about 40 per cent completed, while the base oil storage tanks were approximately 70 per cent completed.”
Oboku warned that abandoning the project would come at a significant economic cost, noting that it is expected to generate more than 200 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect employment opportunities when it completed.
He also said the project would encourage the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises, expand domestic manufacturing capacity and boost revenue generation for both the Bayelsa State and Federal Governments.
Citing Sections 14(2)(b) and 16 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which require government to promote national prosperity, industrial development and safeguard investments that drive economic growth, the lawmaker appealed for immediate federal intervention.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to utilise the Ecological Fund for shoreline protection and erosion control projects at the Eraskorp Industrial Park and neighbouring communities in Gbarain.
Lawmakers also directed the House Committee on Ecological Fund to oversee the implementation of the resolution and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.
Shoreline erosion remains a major environmental challenge across the Niger Delta, where rising water levels, coastal degradation and recurring floods continue to destroy homes, public infrastructure and private investments.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated increased funding for erosion control and shoreline protection, warning that unchecked environmental degradation is discouraging investment and slowing industrial growth in the region.