Senator says project’s economic benefits must remain within Urhobo land, calls for consultation on outstanding concerns.
ABUJA/Nigeria: Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, has rejected claims that his engagement on the proposed Industrial Gas Park in Salubi-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area, is aimed at denying the Urhobo people the economic benefits of the project.
Dafinone, who is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, said his position was to protect the interests of the Urhobo Nation while ensuring that outstanding concerns surrounding the proposed investment are properly addressed.
The senator made the clarification in a statement issued in response to what he described as controversy and misinformation surrounding his position on the project.
He said his involvement with the project arose through legislative oversight and engagements with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), where he became aware of challenges relating to land acquisition, ownership disputes and the proposed location.
“These challenges are real,” Dafinone stated, stressing that efforts to address them should not be misrepresented as opposition to the economic development of Urhobo land.
The senator said any decision concerning the future location of the project must not result in its removal from Urhobo land.
He, however, acknowledged that legitimate technical, environmental or land-related concerns could require adjustments, insisting that such decisions must be made through proper consultation and with full consideration for the economic interests of the Urhobo people.
“My position is therefore straightforward: any decision concerning the future location of the project must not result in its removal from Urhobo land,” he said.
Dafinone added that he would continue engaging the NCDMB, relevant federal authorities, community leaders and other stakeholders towards resolving the outstanding issues responsibly.
The senator described the Industrial Gas Park as a significant opportunity for investment, employment and industrial development in the region.
He said the project should not be reduced to political propaganda or a contest over who receives credit, arguing that the collective economic interest of the Urhobo Nation should remain the overriding consideration.
The NCDMB’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme is designed to support domestic manufacturing of equipment and components for the oil and gas industry, deepen local content and create employment opportunities. The Board has described the scheme as part of its wider industrialisation mandate.
Dafinone said any attempt to portray his engagement as contrary to the interests of the Urhobo people was false and without basis.
“My record and my responsibility are clear: to defend the interests of Delta Central and pursue opportunities that advance the future of our people,” he stated.
The clarification comes amid public commentary over the proposed project’s location and viability.
An opinion article published on September 9, 2026, raised questions about the Salubi-Orogun site and criticised the role of former Deputy Senate President Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in the project’s development.
Omo-Agege’s camp subsequently responded, accusing Dafinone of undermining the proposed investment and calling for the project to be protected and completed.
Against this backdrop, Dafinone maintained that his position was not opposition to industrial development but an effort to ensure that the interests of the Urhobo people were protected in decisions concerning the project.
He said the proposed Industrial Gas Park should be pursued with transparency, consultation and a clear focus on delivering investment, employment and sustainable industrial development.
