The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Senate Committee on Local Content have commenced a three-day retreat in Abuja to enhance cooperation and improve the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Themed “Creating Synergy for Sustainable Local Content Development,” the retreat brings together committee members and senior NCDMB management.
At the opening ceremony, NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe emphasized the critical role of stakeholder collaboration in advancing Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector. He identified the National Assembly as a key partner in this effort.
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Ogbe reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to the NOGICD Act’s mandate, which aims to build the capacity of Nigerian companies and personnel to participate in the oil and gas industry, and to ensure compliance among industry players. Despite changes in leadership, he stressed that this mandate remains unchanged and is crucial for sustaining growth in the sector.
Ogbe highlighted NCDMB’s role as a business enabler, supporting value chain efficiency and project delivery.
He noted that, in line with recent Presidential Directives on Local Content and the Board’s Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the oil and gas industry, processes are being simplified and approval timelines accelerated to facilitate business operations. Additionally, he announced a new program to upgrade primary and secondary schools in rural areas, aimed at developing future manpower for the industry.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, praised the achievements under the NOGICD Act, particularly in developing critical assets and skilled Nigerian professionals.
She pointed out areas needing improvement and stressed that the retreat provides a vital interface for stakeholders. She advocated for the engagement of trainees from the Board’s programs by the oil and gas industry to ensure the resources invested in their training yield benefits.
The retreat included presentations from key NCDMB directors. Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, explained the Board’s monitoring processes to ensure compliance with the NOGICD Act, using the Nigerian Content Compliance Certificate (NCCC) as a monitoring tool.
Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director of Projects Certification and Authorization Division (PCAD), urged industry players to ensure at least one final investment decision (FID) annually to keep facilities, investments, and employees engaged.