NAOC holds Nigerian Content workshop for vendors

The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and its joint venture partners have organized a workshop for its contractors on regulatory and procurement best practices.

The workshop was organised in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State recently and sought to enlighten contractors on the regulations, policies and laws that are applicable in the oil and gas industry and encourage compliance.

Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Daziba Patrick Obah commended NAOC/ENI for hosting the workshop in the state annually.

He observed that the workshop has contributed immensely in building the capacity of indigenous firms, providing entrepreneurial development and mentoring the companies to build capacities and challenge themselves to grow.

According to him, the Nigerian oil and gas industry lost $380 billion to capital flight due to lack of local capacity in the first 50 years of industry operations.

He said “from five percent Nigerian Content, we have achieved 28 percent value retention, increased in-country capacity in engineering, fabrication, among others.”

Mr. Obah also stated that the Board had launched the US$200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund) to assist local contractors.

He added that “for us to achieve our target of 70 percent in-country value retention, we need greater indigenous participation in the industry. You all should set a new strategic vision for your firms so we can have more Nigerian companies.”

In his welcome address, the General Manager – District, Mr. Alessandro Tiani, who represented the Vice Chairman/ Managing Director, Mr. Lorenzo Fiorillo, said the workshop was organised to further demonstrate the company’s commitment to Nigerian Content Development through the implementation of various activities and partnerships.

He noted that the workshop was conceived to raise the level of contractors’ compliance with extant laws, empower and enhance their capacities to bid and execute projects in the industry.

Mr. Tiani assured that ENI will continue to build and sustain long term partnerships in the countries it operates by developing local capacities and capabilities of all stakeholders.

In his remarks, the Head of Government and External Relations, Oando, Mr. Adeyemi Oreagba, who represented the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wale Tinubu, stated that Oando in collaboration with other joint venture partners of NAOC and NAPIMS would support community contractors and vendors in doing business in the oil and gas industry.