FG to complete Oloibiri oil museum, research centre by 2028 — Lokpobiri

The Federal Government is targeting 2028 for the completion of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre in Bayelsa State, as part of efforts to preserve the history of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this while speaking on the development of the project in Otuabagi, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Oloibiri holds a significant place in Nigeria’s economic history as the location where Shell Darcy discovered the country’s first commercial oil well in 1956, marking the beginning of commercial petroleum production in Nigeria.

According to Lokpobiri, construction of the museum and research centre is progressing, with key infrastructure including the main structure, roofing and perimeter fencing currently being developed.

The project is designed to go beyond preserving historical artefacts, with facilities planned to include a museum, research centre, accommodation, health centre and water infrastructure.

The government said the centre will document the evolution of Nigeria’s petroleum industry and provide a platform for research into the sector and its impact on the country’s economic development.

The project is expected to be completed within 33 months, with final delivery projected for 2028.

The development comes as Nigeria continues to reassess the role of oil and gas in its economy amid efforts to attract new investment, increase production and expand domestic refining capacity.

For an industry that began with the discovery at Oloibiri nearly seven decades ago, the proposed centre is expected to serve as both a historical archive and a research facility documenting the evolution and impact of petroleum on Nigeria.