Senate Committee Backs NCDMB On Indigenous Control Of Oil Sector

The Senate Committee on Local Content has commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its efforts in promoting local participation in the country’s oil and gas industry.

Vice chairman of the Senate Committee and Senator representing Delta Central, Chief Ede Dafinone, made the commendation at the end of the first day of the committee’s oversight visit to the NCDMB headquarters yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

During the visit, the Senate delegation was taken on a tour of the NCDMB’s nearly complete Nigerian Oil and Gas Park (NOGaPS) project, located in Emeyal 1 in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, which is already being occupied.

Senator Dafinone expressed satisfaction with the progress, stating that the achievements of the board went beyond physical infrastructure and include training and capacity-building programs that benefit Nigerians.

He also noted that the NCDMB presented a self-assessment during the session, reporting a 56% success rate in Nigerianising the oil and gas workforce. The board also submitted a wish-list of policy suggestions for the Senate’s consideration to help expand and strengthen local content initiatives across the sector.

He said, “This is the first oversight visit of the tenth Senate to the NCDMB and we had some time with the ES and his team to understand exactly what they do here and results that we are seeing for Nigerians. I have to say that we are impressed.

“The ES and his team have taken us around one of their projects, an industrial park that is nearly finished and is starting to be occupied. I want to say that they work of the NCDMB extends far wider than the projects we see physically on ground but also the training and capacity building we have as programmes for Nigerians. It’s a good first visit and I believe we will still see more at the NCDMB.”

However, when asked about the NCDMB’s appeal for the exclusion of the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) from certain revenue deductions, Senator Dafinone declined to comment, indicating the matter may require further legislative review.

Also, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, who spoke during an interview, revealed that significant progress is being made at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park (NOGa) project.