NCDMB Collaborates with Senate Committee on Local Content at Abuja Retreat

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Senate Committee on Local Content commenced a three-day retreat in Abuja on Sunday. The retreat aims to strengthen their collaboration for enhanced implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

With the theme “Creating Synergy for Sustainable Local Content Development,” the retreat brought together committee members and senior management of the NCDMB.

During the opening ceremony on Monday, NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe emphasized the necessity of collaborating with key stakeholders to manage and expand Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector. He highlighted the National Assembly as a critical partner in these efforts.

Ogbe reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to its NOGICD Act mandate: building the capacity of Nigerian companies and personnel in the oil and gas industry and ensuring compliance among industry operators. He noted that this focus remains unchanged despite leadership transitions within the Board. His primary objective is to sustain the growth of Nigerian content in the industry.

Ogbe outlined the Board’s role as a business enabler, supporting value chain efficiency and project delivery. He cited recent Presidential Directives on Local Content and the Board’s Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the oil and gas industry, noting efforts to streamline processes and expedite approvals to facilitate business operations. Additionally, Ogbe announced a new initiative to upgrade primary and secondary schools in remote areas to develop a skilled workforce for the future.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content, praised the successes of the NOGICD Act in developing critical assets and skilled Nigerian professionals capable of leading complex projects in the oil and gas industry. She acknowledged areas for improvement and stressed that the retreat was an opportunity to engage with key stakeholders to enhance productivity and impact.

Akpoti-Uduaghan advocated for the employment of trainees from the Board’s on-the-job and direct training programs within the oil and gas industry, warning that failing to do so would waste the resources invested in their training.

Presentations at the retreat included one from Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, who detailed the Board’s monitoring activities to ensure industry compliance with the NOGICD Act. Halilu explained the use of the Nigerian Content Compliance Certificate (NCCC) in monitoring operations.

Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director of the Projects Certification and Authorization Division (PCAD), recommended that industry players ensure at least one final investment decision (FID) is made annually to maintain engagement in oil and gas service facilities, investments, and employment.