Mkpoikana Udoma
04 October 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has said that the Nigerian Oi and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD, Act is not directed at kicking out foreign companies or expatriates, but to support foreign and local firms to invest and domicile facilities in-country, and create skilled and professional jobs for Nigerians.
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, disclosed this at the official presentation and demonstration of Trelleborg Offshore and SDH Integrated Services’ in-country capabilities in deep offshore projects and pipeline leak and intrusion detection systems using fibre optic cabling.
Wabote said the country must take technology development and domiciliation seriously, else the goal of being a truly independent economy will continue to be mirage.
“Like we have always preached at NCDMB, the NOGICD Act is not here to kick-out every foreign company or expatriates, rather the law supports both foreign and Nigerian firms willing to invest and domicile facilities in-country and also create skilled and professional jobs for Nigerians,” he said.
Wabote, who was represented at the event by the NCDMB’s Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Tunde Adelana, also announced that the country has achieved over 81 percent Nigerian Content domiciliation in engineering design and over 56 percent in fabrication and construction on the Egina project.
Adelana made reference to section 45 of the NOGICD Act, saying the section required the NCDMB to ensure that operators in the industry give full and effective support to technology transfer by encouraging and facilitating the formation of joint ventures, partnering and the development of licensing agreements between Nigeria and foreign contractors or supplier companies.
“The implementation of NOGICD Act on the Egina project also gave rise to numerous deep offshore opportunities for Nigerian companies.
“We intend to cap-off these remarkable Nigerian Content feats on the Egina project by executing the first FPSO integrated in West Africa; this shall commence in fourth quarter of 2017 at SHI-MCI, LADOL yard in Lagos,” he said.
