Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has assured oil and gas producing communities that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) had concluded plans to engage the people especially in the Niger Delta area on the details contained in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The minister gave the assurance while playing host to a delegation from Ogbia in Bayelsa state.

Chief Timipre Sylva, who was particularly pleased with the manner in which the host communities have maintained peace in the region, was optimistic that the 3% for host communities in the PIA would in great measure better the living standards of the Niger-Deltans, and redefine the oil and gas industry to compete favourably at the global market.

On the construction of the Oloibiri oil museum which was conceived since 1983, chief Timipre Sylva announced that the project has gotten to a point of no return as the federal government has gracious approved it and all partners – Bayelsa state government, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund have made strong commitments to engage Julius Berger Construction company to start work soon.

Earlier, Spokes person of the Ogbia delegation and former Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, Eric Aworabhi, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the reforms in the Petroleum sector and the major developmental projects sited in Bayelsa state, especially in Ogbia and the Brass Island.