Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board said it has been able to retain contracts in the oil and gas sector valued at about 5 billion dollars every year.
The feat the agency said was achieved through the implementation of the Nigerian Local Content Law.
Before the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD Act was signed, all fabrication, engineering, and procurement were done abroad resulting in estimated capital flight of $380 billion in 50 years while estimated job loss opportunities were in the region of 2 million.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new council of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), in Lagos, executive secretary of the Nigeria Content development Board, NCDB, Simbi Wabote who gave the figure said that 7 years of the Boards existence, so much has been achieved.
Wabote revealed that before the Act, Nigeria, had an annual spend of $20 billion with little or nothing retained in-country.
The Board, he said targeted $10 billion in-country spends at the start of the journey in 2010 and today, the agency has ensured that $5 billion worth of job is done in-country
“Before 2010, we targeted 4 pipe mills; today we have 2 world-class pipe mills and 5 impressive pipe coating yards
Before 2010, only 3 per cent of marine vessels are Nigerian owned or Nigerian flagged; today, we have 36 percent of marine vessels owned by Nigerians” he said.
Also according to the executive secretary, Before 2010, we had no active dry-dock facilities. The few we had were abandoned and left to rot away. Today, we have 4 active dry docking facilities in PHC, Onne, and Lagos.
Over 35,000 jobs have been created on the back of implementation of the Act
Over 7000 have enrolled on NOGIC JQS leading to employment. We in discussion with an ICT consultant to use the JQS to capture more enrolments.
Speaking further, he said the Nigerian Content implementation received a boost in October 2016 with the launch of the Petroleum Industry Roadmap by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The 7 Big Wins encapsulates key focus areas of local content namely infrastructure development, new gas projects, skills acquisition and security in the Niger Delta.
We are excited about this as we re-focus and re-dedicate our energy at pushing through Nigerian Content into the next level via development and transfer of technology, creation of local employment across value chain activities, reduction in capital flight, integration of host communities into the oil and gas supply chain, and sustainable economic growth through sectoral linkages.
We call on all industry stakeholders to support the delivery of the 7 pillars of the Petroleum Industry Roadmap”, Wabote appealed.
He also advised the new national executive of OGTAN and the entire members of the association, to develop a minimum standard for training facilities for their members such that trainees learn in a very conducive and safe environment.
He said training programs should lead to internationally recognized certification such that trainees can use it for gainful employment, and also advised that OGTAN should embark on creating an effective marketing strategy for the courses they offer
“The courses should also come with an appropriate mix of classroom, online, practical, and another form of learning formats so that the trainee comes off with a rewarding learning experience.
And get ready for the planned categorization of Oil and Gas training facilities by the Board. We will let you know the modalities for the categorisation shortly,” he said.