Photo caption: NCDMB logo
*Says Board observes highest standards of accountability, transparency and due process in its operations
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has declared as untrue, baseless and malicious the exclusive report by Sahara Reporters that it spent a princely sum of N7 billion on consultancy, over N580 million on five-day London training, logistics and allowances.
A statement by NCDMB said: “It wishes to firmly and unequivocally rebut the false, malicious, and misleading publication by Sahara Reporters on February 12, 2025, titled – EXCLUSIVE: NIGERIAN CONTENT BOARD NCDMB BOSS OGBE SPENDS N7 BILLION ON CONSULTANCY, OVER 580 MILLION ON 5-DAY LONDON TRAINING, LOGISTICS, ALLOWANCES.
“The publication is riddled with falsehoods, gross inaccuracies and baseless inferences.
“We wish to state that neither the Board nor the Executive Secretary spent the amount stated in the headline of the referenced statement.
“It is a fact that in 2017, the Board developed a 10-Year Strategic Roadmap underpinned by five pillars and four enablers. The 10-Year Strategic Roadmap targets in-country retention of 70% spend in the oil and gas industry by 2027, amongst other measurable targets.
“One of the four enablers of the 10-Year Strategic Roadmap is Stakeholder Collaboration and Engagement, borne out of a need to ensure harmonious policy and regulatory implementation by all agencies and institutions of government. It is against this background that the Board has every two years organised a Strategic Workshop with Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government that pertain to the oil and gas industry to interrogate and find areas of alignment in the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
“In carrying out this Strategic Workshop and every other activity of NCDMB, due process was followed in ensuring that all financial expenditures were made following approved financial and procurement guidelines. We wish to emphasize that NCDMB operates under strict government regulations and oversight bodies.”
Therefore, the Board noted that it is regrettable that Sahara Reporters, known for its sensationalism and lack of investigative rigour, has once again published unverified claims designed to mislead the public and tarnish the hard-earned reputation of our Executive Secretary and esteemed organization.
“The NCDMB categorically refutes the false claims made in the publication. The allegations of misappropriation to the tune of N7.7 billion without due approval are entirely baseless, mischievous, and aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Board and the Executive Secretary. There was no such expenditure of N7.7 billion naira by the Board for consultancy services.
“We wish to emphasize that the NCDMB led by Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, operates with the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and due process in all its operations. All expenditures in the Board are subjected to rigorous approval processes in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, our enabling law, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) Act 2010 and other relevant statutes and policies. The Board remains committed to upholding the principles of good governance in line with its statutory mandate.
“It is on account of our strict adherence to due process that the NCDMB achieved remarkable milestones, including ranking first three consecutive times in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Compliance Report in the Ease of Doing Business, Transparency and Accountability among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government in Nigeria. Additionally, the Board received the Nigeria Govtech Award and the Distinguished Govtech Trailblazers Award from the Bureau for Public Sector Reform (BPSR) for excellence in digital governance and public sector innovation.
“The NCDMB remains resolutely committed to its core mandate of building local capacity and empowering Nigerians to participate effectively in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Our initiatives are aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, aimed at empowering Nigerians and creating sustainable jobs.
“We encourage members of the public and media houses to always verify their sources of information before rushing to publish the ‘’so-called exclusive report.’’ The NCDMB has an open and accessible corporate communications team with verifiable addresses and contact details that if the above referenced online platform had bothered to reach out to for clarification, this undue sensationalism would not have happened. We believe this is a hatchet job and thus avoided the time held journalism practice of hearing the other side.
“We assure the public that this malicious, false, and misleading publication will not distract the Executive Secretary from his commitment to driving the Board’s mission. The Executive Secretary remains steadfast in advancing the goals of the organization and delivering on its mandate for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
