The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote, has reemphasized that 70 per cent local content will be achieved in the oil and gas industry by 2027 as the launch of 10-year Strategy Roadmap by the Board was aimed at achieving that feat.
Wabote stated that in his keynote address at the 11th Practical Nigerian Content Forum, which ended yesterday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital with the theme “Deepening the Nigerian Content Opportunity in the Decade of the Gas.”
He said since the launch of the Strategic Roadmap the board was proud of the achievements realised in the last five years despite the general and specific challenges faced across the oil and gas industry locally and globally.
“We are midway into the 10-year Strategic Roadmap and we are back to provide feedback on the journey so far in our quest to deepen Nigerian Content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“Since 2018, our objective has always been to give status report of the various initiatives to industry stakeholders using the annual PNC Forum as a key platform.
“We are proud of the achievements realised in the last five years despite the general and specific challenges faced across the oil and gas industry locally and globally.
“It is gratifying that the push for Nigerian Content as envisaged in our 10-year Strategic Roadmap has continued to yield results in the last five years,” he said.
He added that the Nigerian Content level in the oil and gas industry was 54 per cent based on our monitoring and evaluation of industry activities which brought the average in the last five years to 44 per cent Nigerian Content level.
The NCDMB chief added that out of the 96 initiatives under the strategic roadmap, the board had completed 77 initiatives under the short and medium term categories as at last month.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, in his goodwill message, said the national oil company had concluded plans to fix the Trans-Morocco Pipelines from Nigeria across 11 countries for onward transmission to the rest of the world.
Kyari expressed hope that the investment when completed would engender prosperity in Nigeria and other partner countries.
He explained that the importance of gas as a major driver of world energy needs could not be overemphasised, adding that the importance of energy transition is hinged on effective and seamless transformation for efficient utilisation.
He said: “Gas resources provide the opportunity to power the global economy in a sustainable manner because gas is the enabler of energy transition.
“That is why we are focusing with our partners to make sure we create the necessary infrastructure to bring gas to the surface, process it and convert to the value it can give.
“Therefore, in deepening gas utilisation, we decided to focus on in-country utilisation, and that’s critical to us.”
While declaring the event open, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the theme of the conference was apt because it draws attention to gas utilisation, while fostering the growth of Nigerian Content Implementation within the energy industry.
Emmanuel, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, said since there had been a global shift from fossil fuel to renewable energies, industry players in the country had to continually engage in discussions to ensure that the country is ready for this transition.
“The theme of this year’s Forum “Deepening the Nigerian Content Opportunity in the Decade of the Gas,” therefore, is apt because it draws attention to gas utilization, while fostering the growth of Nigerian Content Implementation within the energy industry.
“It will also help in assessing our commitment as a nation to contribute to the development of the petroleum and energy industry,” Udom said.
The Governor said the state government was promoting local content in industrialisation drive which has led to massive training of indigenes outside the country to enable them manage critical operations in aviation, health, and manufacturing.
