The Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA) has secured 100 hectares of land in Nembe, Bayelsa State, for the development of a mega integrated fisheries and value-added industrial project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDBDA, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, disclosed this during strategic engagements with the Nembe Council of Chiefs, Bilsha Nigeria Limited and officials of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Special Assistant on New Media to the NDBDA Managing Director, the project will be executed through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) partnership with Bilsha Nigeria Limited as part of the Authority’s 10-year Blue Economy development strategy.
Amgbare said the BOT model was adopted to ensure transparency, sustainability and technology transfer throughout the project’s implementation.
He revealed that feasibility studies, survey plans and technical mapping have already been completed, adding that the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy remains the final regulatory requirement before construction begins.
The NDBDA boss explained that the 100-hectare integrated fisheries complex will include a trawling jetty, fish processing and packaging facilities, cold storage, packaging factories, logistics services, staff housing and other supporting infrastructure.
He said the project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs while providing training opportunities in marine operations, manufacturing and logistics for youths in the Niger Delta.
Speaking on the initiative, the Head of Public-Private Partnership at NDBDA, Dr. (Mrs.) Sandra Tamuno, described the project as a major step towards shifting the region’s economy from resource extraction to industrial value addition.
She said the investment would strengthen food security, stimulate economic growth and expand employment opportunities for young people across the region.
Representatives of the Nembe Kingdom and the Bayelsa State Government pledged their support for the project, reaffirming their commitment to facilitating its successful implementation.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bilsha Nigeria Limited, Major Bilyaminu Musa Mohammed (Rtd.), confirmed that funding for the project has been secured and announced that construction would commence shortly.
