Amanze Chinonye
Nigeria’s local content in the oil and gas industry has risen to 61% from about 5% since the country enacted legislation in 2010 to increase indigenous participation in the sector, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) said.
The milestone was highlighted by former NCDMB officials at a dinner in Yenagoa on Friday, where 14 retirees who served across the Board’s seven directorates were honoured for their contributions to the development of local content.
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Mohammed Babaginda Umar, a former director of legal services, said oil and gas companies had initially been reluctant to embrace the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, which promotes the use of Nigerian labour, goods and services in the industry. He said sustained engagement with operators gradually improved compliance.
“Local content was new in the oil and gas sector,” Umar said, adding that the progress recorded since 2010 showed that the policy had gained acceptance. He said other African countries were now looking to Nigeria for lessons from its local content experience.
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Former NCDMB director of planning, research and statistics Isaac Yalah said the Board’s $350 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund had helped indigenous oilfield service companies access single-digit financing and acquire operational assets. He cited Renaissance Africa Energy, Seplat Energy and Oando among Nigerian companies participating in the upstream sector.
Daziba Patrick Obah, a former acting executive secretary of the NCDMB, recalled the early challenges of developing the Board’s research programme and constructing its 17-storey headquarters in Yenagoa. He said the Board eventually took responsibility for funding research and organised its first Research and Development Fair and Conference in Lagos in 2017.
Speaking on behalf of Executive Secretary Felix Omatsola Ogbe, NCDMB Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Esueme Dan Kikile said the retirees had contributed to the institution through their professional work, knowledge-sharing and mentoring. The 14 former officials received special awards, with serving employees also sharing testimonials about their years of working with them.
The retirees were drawn from the Board’s seven directorates and received special awards for their service. The event also featured testimonials from serving staff who had worked with them, while other former officials honoured included Ama Ikuru, Adelana Akintunde, Obinna Ofili, Angela Okoro, Taridouye Gagariga, Ombu Atonbara, Okpetu Gabriel and Peter Isu Odo.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
