Mkpoikana Udoma
Yenagoa — The Senate Committee on Local Content has accused Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, of violating the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, NOGICD Act, signaling a firm stance on enforcing local participation rules.
This revelation came on Tuesday during the 2025 Practical Nigerian Content, PNC Forum, where Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, Chairman of the Committee, called for stronger oversight of oil and gas operators.
“Chevron recently replaced its retired Procurement Manager with an expatriate, flouting the NOGICD Act and depriving Nigerian professionals of critical opportunities,” Thomas said. “Such actions undermine the objectives of our policy and will not be tolerated.”
The Senator emphasized that the Committee is actively monitoring compliance across all operators, ensuring that foreign companies adhere to the law by employing Nigerians in key positions and promoting indigenous skills.
“The NOGICD Act is not optional. It sets standards for employment, training, and skills development. Violations like this create unfair advantages for expatriates while sidelining qualified Nigerians,” Thomas stated.
He also called on other international oil companies to avoid bypassing the law, noting that similar practices contribute to inefficiencies, increased operational costs, and lost opportunities for local contractors.
“Operators must invest in human capital, adhere to HSE standards, and ensure that knowledge and technology transfer occurs to build sustainable local capacity,” Thomas added.
The Committee, in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, said it was reviewing contracts, compliance frameworks, and waiver requests to ensure that local companies and personnel are given priority in line with the Act.
“We are moving from paper compliance to measurable enforcement. Companies cannot simply tick boxes, they must genuinely develop Nigerian skills and participate in the local economy,” Thomas stressed.
He reiterated that partnerships with foreign corporations should create Nigerian jobs, strengthen local capacity, and support industrial growth. The Committee intends to take appropriate action against violators, signaling a zero-tolerance approach.
“Nigerian Content compliance is a national priority. All operating companies must align with our laws, or face consequences. The committee will continue to support NCDMB on policies and programs that strengthen local content. Our goal is your ensure that NOGICD Act is respected by all.
“Nigerians should desist from allowing themselves to be used as a cover or a front by IOCs, who uses them as a front, while pretending to be an indigenous companies while in the real sense they are not,” he concluded.
