Oil & Gas
By Anthony Isibor
SIMBI Wabote, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has said that an analysis of this year’s NC level performance puts Shipping, Surveying/Positioning services, and Inspection/ Testing and Certification at top 3 performers of in-country, NC spend, each at 100% NC level.
He made the disclosure at the 12th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content, PNC forum on Tuesday December 5, 2023 in Yenagoa.
Wabote gave the bottom 3 performers to include Modification and Maintenance at 26% NC level, Health, Safety and Environment at 31% NC level and Materials and Procurement at 32% NC level.
Speaking on the theme: “Deepening Nigerian Content Amidst Divestments, Domestication and Decarbonisation”, Wabote stated that based on results gotten from monitoring and evaluation of industry activities, the 2023 Nigerian Content level in the Nigerian oil and gas industry is 54% similar to the 54% NC level achieved last year.
Although the performance is well above the minimum target of 47% NC set for 2023 by the Board, he wonders if this is a sign of stagnation or the inflection point leading to the decline in NC level in the oil and gas industry.
He called on all industry players to play their part to prevent the country from going back to the dark days of implementing Nigerian Content as a “Token of consolation”.
“The nexus between high Nigerian Content levels and the relative peace in the industry must not be lost on us.
“From where I sit, I see some disturbing signs pointing to that direction and I believe we can counter these emerging dynamics as this is not the first time we have faced such onslaught on local content practice.
“I am sure you all know that getting the industry to this level of Nigerian Content is not a walk in the park and I believe all discerning stakeholders in the industry will play their part to prevent us from going back to the dark days of implementing Nigerian Content as a token of consolation.
“In more than seven years of being in the saddle, I have served under 2 Presidents and 3 Ministers of State, with oversights from 7 Committee Chairmen spanned over the 8th, 9th, and now the 10th National Assembly not to mention the interactions several CEOs of international and indigenous operators.
“We have managed to adapt our work styles and initiatives to derive the support of our principals and various stakeholders, while enabling their various programmes and policy initiatives such as 7 Big Wins, Economic Sustainability Programme, Year of Gas, Decade of Gas, and several others,” he added.
However, the NCDMB boss also disclosed that these achievements couldn’t have been made possible without the support of the industry, its sponsors, principals, advocates, staff, contractors, host communities, and even critics.
A.I
Tags: NCDMB Practical Nigerian Content Forum Simbi Kasie Wabote
