NCDMB hosts army officers, showcases 56% local content achievement

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) welcomed a team of senior military officers from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, on Thursday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for a local study tour.

During an interactive session at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), the NCDMB’s corporate headquarters, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, provided an overview of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry over its first 50 years of operation. He also discussed key milestones in the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.

Ogbe highlighted that the early years of the industry were marked by significant capital flight, estimated at US$380 billion, a loss of two million jobs due to human capital deficits, and less than five per cent local content. In contrast, the post-NOGICD Act era has seen substantial development in in-country capacity and capabilities, driven by effective enforcement and monitoring of industry operations and strategic interventions by the NCDMB.

He noted that local content reached 56 per cent by the end of 2023, meaning that 56 per cent of the oil and gas industry’s yearly spend on operations is retained within the country. This achievement has made the NOGICD Act and its implementation strategies a model for other oil- and gas-producing nations in Africa. Ogbe outlined the NCDMB’s target of reaching 70 per cent local content by 2027.

Emphasising the Board’s commitment, Ogbe stated, “We aim to ensure that the equipment, tools, and services required for oil and gas operations are manufactured and procured in Nigeria.”

He attributed the NCDMB’s successes to its focus on research and development, citing the establishment of centres of excellence at six universities across the country, one in each geopolitical zone. The Executive Secretary, who was represented by Dr. Ama Ikuru, Director of Corporate Services and Capacity Building, also acknowledged the Nigerian Army’s efforts in advancing research and development and local content, particularly in human capital development and the local manufacturing of military components.

During a tour of the Board’s facilities, Dr. Ikuru introduced the officers, who were undergoing an 11-month Leadership and Strategic Course 3/2024, to the NCDMB’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TIIC). The Centre’s success in supporting individuals with innovative ideas and facilitating technology adaptation and process improvement was highlighted.

Further elaborating on the NCDMB’s activities, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, noted the history of mutually beneficial partnerships between the Army and the Board, including the involvement of NCDMB personnel as resource persons at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He said, “It is good that the military sees the NCDMB as a partner.”

Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, the General Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, added that the visit provided an invaluable platform for interaction and knowledge-sharing. He encouraged the visiting officers to “tell the success story of the NCDMB” wherever they go.

The team leader, Major General Abubakar A. Tarfa (retd), explained that the Local Study Tour was part of the 11-month course. He noted that the officers, who came from various professional backgrounds, were being prepared for higher responsibilities. The tour aimed to provide exposure to the NCDMB and its role in monitoring and promoting steady growth in local content within the oil and gas sector.

Major General Tarfa also highlighted the connection between leadership, strategy, and national security, stressing that military assistance to civil authorities, particularly in the Niger Delta, was a key factor motivating the study tour.

Lt. Col. Juliet Aziekwu, speaking on behalf of the participants, expressed appreciation for the session, stating, “We are now better informed about the NCDMB and its role, and we will put this knowledge to use.”

In his opening remarks, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, Deputy Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, emphasised the link between the military officers’ objectives and the NCDMB’s focus on capacity building, noting that they were in the right place.

Accompanying the NARC team was Brigadier General Oluremi Obolo, Commander of the 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yenagoa.