The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has called on media practitioners to critically examine and report on the achievements of Nigerian Content performance in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at a one-day workshop in Port Harcourt on Monday, themed “The Role of the Media in Maintaining the Tempo of Nigerian Content Implementation,” NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, highlighted the media's role in showcasing the progress made in in-country value addition.
Ogbe, represented by Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, emphasized the board’s achievements, stating, “NCDMB has moved Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry from less than 5% in 2010 to 56% in 2023. Our goal is to achieve 70% by 2027.”
He encouraged journalists to delve into the metrics and processes underpinning this progress, ensuring accurate and informative reporting.
Meanwhile, the board reiterated its dedication to integrating host communities into the oil and gas supply chain, identifying it as a critical enabler of its 70% target.
Initiatives such as the Back-to-the-Creeks programme aim to enhance basic education, provide affordable financing to community contractors, and equip youths with industry-relevant skills.
Additionally, the Community Contracting Financing Scheme has been revised to increase access to funds, raising the single obligor limit from ₦20 million to ₦100 million. These measures aim to foster peace and development in host communities while minimizing operational conflicts.
During his presentation, Engr. Bashir Ahmed, Supervisor at the Project Certification and Authorization Directorate, shed light on recent Presidential Directives designed to improve local content compliance and reduce contract timelines in the oil and gas sector. These directives, he explained, have revitalized dormant projects, attracting fresh investments and creating job opportunities.
Ahmed also buttressed the role of local content in economic growth, stating, “More Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) mean new investments, more jobs, and more local content development.”
Similarly, Tassala Tersugh, General Manager, Midstream, NCDMB, in her presentation highlighted key parameters for sustainable local content, including regulatory frameworks, capacity building, funding, and access to markets.
She emphasized the importance of collaboration with industry stakeholders and government agencies to achieve the board’s strategic goals.
Meanwhile, Lekan Otufodunrin, a media career coach, advised journalists to embrace artificial intelligence (AI ) tools for efficiency while maintaining ethical standards.
Other key sessions of the event was when Panelists, including industry experts and NCDMB officials, deliberated on strategies to achieve the 70% local content target by 2027.
They emphasized the need for indigenous companies to specialize and for NCDMB to maintain robust monitoring and evaluation systems, leveraging partnerships with agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The workshop, attended by representatives from over 90 media organizations, served as a platform to strengthen collaboration between the media and NCDMB, ensuring sustained awareness and support for local content initiatives.
