The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Ogbe has reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to achieving 70 percent local content by the year 2027.
Engr. Ogbe disclosed this in his opening address on Monday at the Nigerian Content Seminar, a flagship programme of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week (NOG 2024, currently holding in Abuja.
He said: “The Presidential Directive and our modalities are in accordance with the objectives of our 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, as they will significantly contribute to the deepening of Nigerian Content, which will ultimately help us achieve our overarching aim of increasing the level of Nigerian Content to 70% by 2027”.
According to him, the Presidential Directive seeks to further deepen local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry while enhancing competitiveness, mitigating risks of approving unqualified contractors, improving the approval timeline, creating an enabling business environment in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
He reiterated the Board’s unwavering dedication to implementing the Presidential Policy Directive on Local Content Compliance, assuring that when fully implemented, it will significantly impact Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, grow our economy, ensure cost competitiveness and attract further investments to the industry and the country at large.
Engr. Ogbe disclosed that the Board has designated five focal areas for implementing the Presidential Directive.
“They are: Promoting the Utilisation/Growth of In-Country Capacities, Enhancing the Cost Competitiveness of Oil and Gas Projects, the Non-Inclusion of Intermediary Entities Lacking the Essential Capacity to perform from the Nigerian Content Plan (NCP), 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
Entities acting solely as intermediaries, with no demonstrable capacity to execute the project or activity.
He highlighted some of the accomplishments that the Board has made under his leadership to include, the Amal Technologies Gas Leak Detection Device and Printed Circuit Board manufacturing facility in December 2023 in Idu, Abuja.
According to him, the facility represents a new era in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, representing a significant advancement in research and technology innovation.
“It is a testament to Nigeria’s ability to create indigenous innovation that will be implemented to address the obstacles that the Nigerian oil and gas industry is currently encountering”, he said.
Engr. Ogbe said, in June 2024, the NEDOGAS Kwale Gas Gathering and Injection Facility, one of the Board’s partnership initiatives, was commissioned in Kwale Delta state.
“The facility is a significant advancement in attaining the Federal Government’s flare-out policy”, he said.
The ES listed the Final Investment Decision (FID) made on the Ubeta Field Development Project by TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and its JV Partner, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is another significant accomplishment.
“This project will add over 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to our country’s gas production capacity.
“The FID reflects investors’ trust in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“The Board is determined to establish an enabling business environment that will attract more investors to the country’s oil and gas sector”, he said.
