NIGERIA TO ACHIEVE 70% INDIGENOUS PARTICIPATION IN OIL AND GAS BY 2027- NCDMB 12-12-23
By Sadiq Aminu To achieve and sustain the Nigeria Content policy in the oil and gas industry, there is need for effective training of indigenous workforce to acquire the requisite skills in the sector.
This was the crux of discussion at a capacity building workshop organised for Media Stakeholders by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, in Lagos.
The event, with the theme “The strategic role of the media in sustaining Nigerian Content Legacies,” was attended by key players in the oil and gas industry.
According to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, the workshop is to acquaint participants with the achievements and challenges of the Board’s mandates in the industry.
The General Manager, Corporate Communications Mr. Dan Kikile noted that the workshop become imperative in view of the critical role of the media in the nation’s content development
He said being one of the regulators in the industry, NCDMB was assisting in indigenous companies to grow and remain competitive.
Mr. Kikile said the Board was committed to attaining the 70% indigenous content in oil and gas as contained in its ten year roadmap which elapses in 2017.
He stated that”We at NCDMB have shown that Nigeria can work. In 2010 when this Board was inaugurated, Nigeria’s content in the industry was at 5%, but now at 2023, we are at 54% percent and counting.and by 2027 we should be at 70%”
The Manager, Strategy, Mr. Olubisi Okunola said more Nigerian companies were now involved in project development and execution in the industry.
Mr. Okunola who also pointed out that expatriate quota law was non-negotiable, said NCDMB was adhering to its mandate of monitoring and implementing the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act of 2010. “If there are applications, we want to ensure that no Nigerian have the skill or no Nigerian who have the skill is available before employing an expatriate, and even in that situation, that operator must have a Nigerian understudy attached to that expatriate”
The manager added that to improve and sustain the indigenous content in oil and gas, the capacity and capabilities of local businesses must be assisted to flourish.
The event witnessed paper presentations on “retooling competencies for media landscape” facilitated by a veteran in the media industry. Mr. Azu Ishiekwene, and “Essential Etiquettes and Ethics for a Media Career, presented by a Media consultant, Mr. Goody Ikeh.