The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe has met with media executives in Lagos as part of his stakeholder engagements in the oil industry.
The media which serves as a critical link between the government, operators and the people got the opportunity to interface with the ES and ask burning questions on the future of local implementation in the country.
The General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile in his opening remarks indicated that the breakfast meeting was organised to introduce the Executive Secretary formally to leading media stakeholders.
Speaking at the breakfast meeting held in Lagos, Engr.Ogbe hinted on plans to launch a major initiative tagged “Back to the creeks.” This policy will take the impact and contribution of local content implementation to oil producing communities and other hinterlands across the country.
He also disclosed some of the gains of the implementation of the Preaidential Directives on local xomtent issued earlier in Febraury 2024.
According to the NCDMB ES, the implementation of the directives had eliminated middlemen from the oil and gas industry value chain and contributed to shortening the oil industry contracting cycle to six months, courtesy of the three Presidential Directives on Local Content operations issued by President Bola Tinubu in March 2024.
He confirmed that NCDMB had complied fully with the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024 (EO 41), which sought to ensure that only local service companies that have domiciled proven capacities and capabilities can participate in oil and gas tenders.
He also indicated that NCDMB has reduced its touch points and fast-tracked projects approval processes, in compliance with the Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines, 2024 (EO 42).
The Presidential Directives and the Board’s compliance are geared to attract new international and local investments, encourage speedy development of oil and gas projects and improve the Nigerian economy.
Other senior management of NCDMB that attended the breakfast meeting included the Director Corporate Services and Capacity Building, Dr. Ama Ikuru; Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu; Director Projects Certification and Authorization, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele and Director, Legal Services, Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, Esq.