21 May 2012, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke on Thursday assured that the implementation of Nigerian Content Act will lead to the development of Nigerians service companies and creation of jobs for Nigerians in the oil and gas industry and ancillary sectors.
The Minister stated this when she commissioned the new service complex of Lee Engineering in Warri, Delta State.
“With continuous aggressive implementation of Nigerian Content Act and ongoing support of Mr. President, we will ensure that more Nigerian companies within the oil and gas sector are able to grow and provide jobs particularly technology based jobs and ensure employment generation over the next few years.”
Noting that successes already recorded have become evident for all to see, she charged industry stakeholders to deepen their collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board towards ensuring full compliance with the Act.
According to Alison-Madueke, the Act which was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on April 22, 2010 and which gives first consideration to Nigerians in the operations of the industry has given rise to the development of many indigenous operating and service companies.
She reported that many indigenous operators and service providers have benefitted from contracts and jobs in the industry which the Nigerian Content Act reserves exclusively for Nigerians and in-country execution.
The minister charged staff of Lee Engineering to take their work seriously as they are breaking frontiers and making major contributions to the growth of the economy.
She further tasked them to understand the importance of their jobs in the value chain of Nigerian economy, noting that, “what you are doing today will have a major impact on Nigerian oil and gas sector in the years to come.
“The jobs you are doing here, the knowledge that you are getting, the transfer of capability that you are getting are all tools that you will transfer to other Nigerians and in that way we will build up the sector for ourselves, for our country and
our economy.”
Alison-Madueke commended the management of Lee Engineering, stating that such companies will propel the oil and gas industry forward in the years ahead and turn around the Nigerian economy for the
better.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Ernest Nwapa commended the Minister for her stoic support to the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act, noting that the whole industry is now moving in the same direction towards developing local capacities and patronizing existing facilities.
Chief Lemon Ikpea, the Managing Director of Lee Engineering commended Alison-Madueke for the various successes the oil and gas industry has recorded under her watch.
He noted that Lee Engineering has been in the fore front of indigenous
participation in the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry over the years.
Ikpea explained that the establishment of the company’s service complex confirms the firm’s determination and readiness to key into the aspirations of the Nigerian Content Act and Mr. President’s transformation agenda.
