FG challenges NCDMB on NOGAPS activation
- Adopts equity investment model in gas sector
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Federal government has challenged the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to accelerate endeavors for full activation of its oil and gas Park scheme as early as next year.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in charge of Gas, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, made the appeal Tuesday at the Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Conference in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
Rt Hon Ekpo declared at the conference that the activation of the industrial parks have become crucial now that the President Bola Tinubu administration is copying partnership investments initiated by the NCDMB to fast track realization of industry aspirations.
“I must commend the NCDMB for its visionary Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS). These parks play a critical role in promoting innovation, industry, and employment creation.
“I challenge the
Board to open and make fully operational most of these parks by 3rd
quarter 2025 at the latest,” the minister stated.
In operationalizing the NOGAPS facilities, the minister also appealed to the NCDMB to give greater collaboration to companies that produce gas infrastructure and facility components.
According to him “these parks need to
reach their full potential. To guarantee that the parks are developed
into hubs for the gas industry, I implore the NCDMB to give top priority to collaborations with businesses that produce gas components, such
as compressors, valves, and fittings.”
In commending the NCDMB on facilitating investments in the industry through tenured equities, Rt Hon Ekpo stated that President Bola Tinubu’s government has started taking similar steps to promote investments in the gas sector.
“I also applaud the NCDMB’s investments in gas-related projects, including support for compressed
natural gas (CNG) projects, modular gas processing plants,
manufacturing plants for LPG cylinders, LPG depots, LPG terminals, LPG storage and bottling plants, gas gathering facilities, smart gas and
smoke detector alarm services, and more,” the minister reiterated.
He said “these are laudable efforts that demonstrate the Board’s commitment to aligning local content development with the national gas agenda of
Mr. President.
“I encourage the NCDMB to ensure that these
investments become operational and yield the intended results, thereby demonstrating the economic and developmental impact of
their initiatives.”
He stated that President Tinubu has through the Midstream, Downstream, Gas Infrastructure Fund
(MDGIF) also facilitated private investments in the industry.
“Through the Midstream, Downstream, Gas Infrastructure Fund
(MDGIF), the administration of Mr. President has empowered 6 local
companies in the Gas value chain to the tune of 122 billion Naira. These amounts serve as the Federal government’s equity in these businesses
to help derisk the investments and further enhance the speedy
completion of the various gas midstream and downstream projects
aimed at pushing gas to the final end users and thus enhancing the
consumption and utilization of Natural gas in the country,” Ekpo stated.
In relentlessly applauding the NCDMB on securing incremental local content value in industry projects, the minister pointed at the role of the agency in high local participation in the ongoing seventh train development project at the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
“I also acknowledge the Board’s significant role in the NLNG Train 7
Project. Your efforts in ensuring local participation and capacity
building have set a benchmark for collaboration and success, he said
