By Ono Yima
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has assured stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, and other Nigerians, that the federal government is firmly committed to the local content agenda.
He stated this in his Opening Address at the 2024 Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) week, with theme “showcasing opportunities, driving investment and meeting energy demand”, currently going on at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
“It is encouraging to note that the Federal Government is firmly committed to the Local Content agenda. Earlier this year, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, issued a Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements.
“This directive aims to deepen local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, enhance competitiveness, mitigate the risks of approving unqualified contractors, streamline the approval process, and create an enabling business environment.
“The Board has been tasked with establishing procedures to execute this directive in accordance with the Presidential mandate”
He went further to inform of the procedures the Board has come up with to implement the Presidential directive.
They include, (1) Promoting the Utilisation/Growth of In-Country Capacities, (2) Enhancing the Cost Competitiveness of Oil and Gas Projects, (3) Non-Inclusion of Intermediary Entities Lacking the Essential Capacity to perform from the Nigerian Content Plan (NCP), (4) Approval of Nigerian Content Plan (NCP), which consists of contractors that meet the legal definition of Nigerian Companies and demonstrate capacity to execute projects within Nigeria, and (5) Entities acting solely as intermediaries, with no demonstrable capacity to execute the project or activity, shall not be approved,
The ES said the Board will continue to partner with various stakeholders to grow local capacities and capabilities; while assuring all the industry players of the Board’s readiness to continue on the part of progress to grow Nigerian Content.
“This Seminar provides the Board with a vital platform to engage with our stakeholders and share the strides we are making towards achieving our critical mandates of developing local capacities and capabilities, as well as enforcing compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010”
He equally highlighted some of the accomplishments that the Board has made since he assumed leadership at the NCDMB. Under his watch the Amal Technologies Gas Leak Detection Device and Printed Circuit Board manufacturing facility was inaugurated in December 2023 at Idu, Abuja; NEDOGAS Kwale Gas Gathering and Injection Facility was commissioned; and the Board was also prime in the Final Investment Decision (FID) made on the Ubeta Field Development Project by TotalEnergies Exploration and production.