OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB has launched a 130-page of Nigerian Content Opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
Presenting the compendium, the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr Simbi Wabote said the book is geared towards providing indigenous companies and Nigerian businesses adequate information on existing opportunities.
According to Wabote, the document would also help anyone who may wish to measure the level of achievements attained on the listed opportunities from time to time.
The compendium will be updated every two years so that people constantly are aware of what is coming their way.
“Local businesses don’t understand the opportunities that are coming because in the past, companies shielded and shared with only those that they know”.
“But we say no more! Let us put out this in the public domain because Nigerian businesses are complaining that they don’t know what is coming and that once it comes they are not prepared enough in terms of finance, capacity thus making them unable to deliver. Then you say Nigerian company cannot perform. For you to try them, give them the opportunity and watch them grow gradually”.
Charging the indigenous companies to take advantage of the opportunities, Wabote said: “We have shared the opportunities; we are also going to expand it on our website. Take advantage of these opportunities; get away from the entitlement mentality because local content is not an entitlement agenda. The oil and gas sector is a sector where you must provide your service to the right specification and quality because we cannot accommodate failure and mediocrity. If you are not able to do it, let those who are competent do it. Build your capacity to take advantage of it. The Local Content Act is not for foreign companies alone, it is for Nigerian companies as well,”.
