Nigerian Content a win-win for NCDMB, IOCs-Exec Sec

Achieving success in the implementation of Nigerian Content is of great benefit to every stakeholder in the oil and gas industry including the international operating companies, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe has said.

Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Thursday when he played host to General Managers of Nigerian Content Divisions in the international oil companies (IOCs) who paid him a courtesy visit, the Executive Secretary explained that the Act was not being implemented in an oppositional manner whereby the Board and the operators viewed themselves as adversaries.

Rather than adopt such a posture, he said the Board decided from inception in 2010 to collaborate with the IOCs and other operating and service industry stakeholders, adding that this model had proven very effective in stimulating compliance with provisions of the Act.

He stressed that the developmental role of the Board was very critical and it involved close collaboration with stakeholders to develop in-country capacities and capabilities which make it possible to execute most industry projects hitherto taken abroad before the advent of the Act.

While acknowledging the partnership of operating companies with the Board over the years and their support to the development of local capacity through various initiatives, Kentebe charged the companies not to rest on their oars as he is new on the saddle and in view of the operational challenges facing the industry at the moment.

He assured that the Board would work closely with Nigerian Content GMs to find solutions to problems their companies might have relating to Nigerian Content compliance in their projects.

In her comments, the General Manager, Nigerian Content, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mrs. Callista Azogu underscored the IOCs avowed commitment to Nigerian Content development, which according to her began before the enactment of the Act in April 2010.

Azogu who is the chairperson of the group admitted that there were often challenges with operators complying with some expectations of the Nigerian Content Act, noting however, that such difficulties were always resolved with the Board to the benefit of all stakeholders.

Also contributing, the General Manager-Nigerian Content Development, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Raymond Wilcox stated that their group and the Board pursued the same objectives, which included to increase the participation of Nigerians and utilization of Nigerian assets and facilities in the operations of the oil and gas industry, retain a greater part of the industry spend in-country and transform the Nigerian economy through the oil and gas industry.

He added that Nigerian Content had taken root in the operating companies and members of their group were the vanguards of the philosophy in their organisations.