Gov. Diri lauds NCDMB for sustaining local content

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa on Tuesday commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for sustaining its flagship Practical Nigerian Content exhibition for a decade. Diri stated this at the NCDMB's 10th Annual Practical Nigerian Content Forum, which has been held regularly over the past 10 years. Supreme reports that the theme for this year's event is "Driving the Nigerian Content in the Dawn of Petroleum Industry Act".

Diri said local content is about securing direct and indirect opportunities for employment and procurement to home grown companies, while at the same time, fostering the development of local skills, technology transfer, and use of local manpower and local manufacturing in capital projects. He said Bayelsa was establishing top quality Vocational, Science and Technical Colleges in all the eight local government areas. He said they would strategically invest heavily in the requisite equipment and staff, in order to produce manpower, who can confidently fit into the most demanding roles in the nation's oil and gas sector.

Diri said the Nigerian Content Law and PIA, are analogous to the foundation and therefore, if the objectives for these Acts would be attained, it is highly essential in discussing the theme for the Forum to be mindful of some foundational realities; including peace and security, which remain irreducible minimums, to the survival and success of businesses. He added to ensure peace and security for a conducive business climate to thrive and create a multiplier effect for massive growth in the Niger Delta the essence of local contentment must be vigorously pursued.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Simbi Wabote, said for the 10 years the board has utilize the Practical Nigeria Content event to share their score card in progress with Nigerians' participation in the oil and gas space. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources on their roles in ensuring that Petroleum Industry Act became a reality. Wabote said that the NCDMB was poised to fully utilise the opportunity provided to drive maximum benefit for the country.

In his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, said from 2010 during the establishment of NCDMB it has since become a household name. Represented by a Director from the Ministry, Mr Famous Esedo, Sylva urged the NCDMB to remain focused on the strategic objective to further drive the Nigerian content to 70 per cent from the current rate of about 35 per cent. He said that the President has done well, in the oil and gas sector and promised to do more to use the oil and gas sector for the overall economic benefit of all citizens.