The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Bayelsa State Government have pledged to work closely with a view to deepen local capacity and integrate indigenes of oil and gas bearing states into industry operations.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe and the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon Seriake Dickson made this commitment at a meeting held at the Governor’s office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State recently.
In his remarks, Mr. Kentebe explained that the Board had continually partnered the Bayelsa State Government on various initiatives, including the annual Practical Nigerian Content Conference which holds in Yenagoa while indigenes of oil bearing states participated in the direct capacity building projects like the Oil Spill Management and Environmental Remediation Training and the artisanal training programme held in 2014 at the Federal University Utuoke, Bayelsa State.
He assured that the Board will involve more youths from oil bearing states in forthcoming programmes.
Speaking further, the Executive Secretary requested the Bayelsa state government to develop the road leading to the pipe mill project site at Polaku and address the encroachment into the construction site of the Board’s headquarters building in Yenagoa.
He commended the Governor for the safe environment his administration had provided in the state, noting that staff of the Board had worked in the state since 2010 without any breach of their safety.
In his welcome remarks, Governor Seriake Dickson identified key areas of collaboration with the Board to include capacity building for indigenes of the state, incorporating Bayelsa Content into the framework of Nigerian Content and stimulating the state’s business environment through oil industry operations.
He announced the creation of a state desk on local content charged with the task of liaising with the Board regularly to ensure maximum participation of the state’s indigenes in the producing and service activities of the oil and gas industry.
The Governor regretted that Bayelsa state had borne the brunt of industry operations for over 50 years but had not got commensurate benefits.
He pledged his administration’s determination to develop the state’s infrastructure to the level that will be conducive for oil and gas operations and attract expatriates and other industry stakeholders.
Dickson also promised to address the concerns of the Board and assured the Executive Secretary of the administration’s preparedness to support the organisation in any way necessary.
