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    Nigeria achieves 260,000MT of fabrication, exports capacity to African countries

    *Metal and steel fabrication

    Mkpoikana Udoma 

    Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, says it has achieved over 260,000 metric tonnes, MT, of fabrication in-country and was already exporting fabrication capacity to other parts of Africa, as part of the Nigerian Content 10-year plan.

    According to the Board, the country currently has excess fabrication capacity as there is nothing currently needed to be fabricated in the world that Nigerians cannot handle.

    NCDMB General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Mr Esueme Dan Kikile, disclosed these while fielding questions from newsmen at the Nigerian Content Capacity Building Workshop for media stakeholders in Port Harcourt.
    Kikile mentioned that the level of Local Content in the Nigerian oil and gas sector was currently at 54 per cent, explaining that the Board has a new leadership and that the new Executive Secretary, Omatsola Ogbe, with a lot of experience, will lead the Board to achieve the Nigerian Content 10-year plan.

    He emphasised the importance of the media for development and urged participants at the workshop to use their power as media practitioners to scrutinise Nigerian Content.

    He said, “Part of the Nigerian Content 10-year plan is to ensure that there are key fabrication centres in Nigeria, and we have surpassed that target. We planned to be able to meet over a hundred metric tonnes of fabrication in-country, but as we speak we have over 260,000 metric tonnes of fabrication in-country.

    “So we have exceeded the plans we had in place. As we speak there is excess capacity in fabrication. Some of our companies in Nigeria (PETAN companies) are now working outside the country, particularly in Senegal and other West African countries.

    “In terms of human capacity, we have Nigerians who can sit in leadership positions in the entire oil and gas industry value chain, and that is already happening. We are not looking at 100 per cent now because we still need activities that will be done outside in terms of investors’ interest.”
    Also, NCDMB’s General Manager, Research, Statistics and Development, Mr Omomehin Ajimijaye, speaking on “R&D as a Pathway for Deepening Nigerian Content Implementation”, stated that the Board has established research and development, R&D, Centres of Excellence in five universities across the country.
    Ajimijaye said research and development was a cornerstone of the NCDMB’s operations, assuring that the Board will facilitate the acceptance of products researched and developed in-country that meet industry standards, as part of its effort to enhance local capacity.

    According to him, as part of NCDMB efforts, Nigeria was already exporting paints and cables used outside the country.He said: “We at NCDMB give them (manufacturers) the assurance that if you’re able to do your research, and develop your products that will help the industry; we will push your products to be used in the industry and given right of first refusal.”

    He listed the challenges facing research and development including skills gaps, infrastructure gaps, access to data, policy gaps, research and development culture.

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