Nigerian Content in oil sector grows to 42% — NCDMB, as Board concludes workshop on NOGICD Act for judicial officers

[From CHRIS EZE, Yenagoa]

Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) says it has grown Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector to 42 per cent.

Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Simbi Wabote, gave the update on Wednesday, while speaking at a Local content workshop for the Judiciary in Bayelsa.

The theme of the workshop was: “Philosophy and the imperatives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act”.

The workshop was aimed at ensuring better understanding of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act for lawyers and judicial officers in Bayelsa State.

 In his keynote address which he delivered virtually, Engr. Wabote provided update on the level so far attained in the quest to grow local participation in the oil and gas industry.

He said so far 42 percent growth has been attained in the projection aimed at reaching 70 percent by the year 2027.

The growth, according to Wabote, translates to retention of over $8 billion of the $20 billion annual spend of the industry within the Nigerian economy and part of the NCDMB’s 10 year plan 2017-2027 to achieve 70 per cent by 2027.

The Executive Secretary noted that with less than 5 per cent Local Content before the enactment of the NOGICD Act 2010, Nigerians are reversing dominance by foreign companies.

He said that currently Nigerian owned oil companies produce 15 per cent of the country’s daily oil output and account for some 60 per cent of domestic gas supply.

On ownership of oil and gas industry equipment, Wabote said that available records indicate 40 per cent of vessels deployed in the sector were owned by Nigerians.

The workshop with the theme, “ Philosophy and The Imperatives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.drew participants from Judges from Bayelsa judiciary, Federal High Court Yenagoa and Nigeria Industrial Court Yenagoa and Port Harcourt Divisions.

In his remarks, Naboth Onyeso, Head of Legal Services at NCDMB noted that although oil and gas was on the exclusive legislative list, some conflict arising from implementation of the NOGICD Act may be brought before state judiciary.

He said that the NCDMB sees all levels of judiciary at state and federal levels as critical stakeholders who need to understand the NOGICD Act.

He said that the Petroleum Industry Act reinforced the NOGICD Act as it complements the legislation.

Mrs. Kate Abiri, Chief Judge of Bayelsa who served as resource person in one of the technical sessions on “Role of the Judiciary in Attaining the Goals of the NOGICD Act” examined all the sections of the Act.

She said a detailed grasp of the contents and intents of the legislation was crucial for the judiciary to give unbiased interpretation of the law.

Senior officials of the NCDMB also presented papers at the technical session on the various aspects of the board’s operations before the audience.

The panel session of the workshop was on the topic: “Challenges of enforcing breaches of the NOGICD Act, The Role of the Bar and the Bench”.

Head of Department, Property/Private Law, Niger Delta University, Dr Pereowei Subai, served as moderator of the panel session comprising Onyeso of the NCDMB and Prof Solomon Ebobra, Law Faculty of the Niger Delta University.

Other members of the panel were Justice Mohammed Madugu, Judge of Federal High Court, Abuja, and legal practitioners, Inemesit Dike, and Kelvin Ejelonu, a legal practitioner.