Lagos — Communities in the Niger Delta are being supported by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) to provide services to the oil and gas industry as part of a strategy to develop Nigerian content. SPDC which operates a Joint Venture with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Oil Company, has signed Community Content plans on specific services and supplies to be provided by communities in the Niger Delta in its operations. Already, such plans have been signed with Bonny and EA, with a third expected to be finalised next year.
Speaking at a panel session on “Nigerian Content from the grass roots: Community capacity Development” at the 13th Annual Practical Nigerian Content forum in Yenagoa, SPDC’s General Manager, Nigerian Content, ‘Olanrewaju Olawuyi said: “The Community Content plans set out in clear terms the services communities can offer and our role in supporting them. It is a mutually rewarding relationship.”
SPDC, which pioneered Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has taken deliberate efforts to develop Nigerian Content in its operations for the past 60 years and decided to pay particular attention to communities by giving them opportunities to develop their processes to industry standards. It means communities can grow to supply goods and services not just to SPDC but other international oil companies.
Olawuyi cited the benefits of the intervention at the panel session which he also moderated. “We’re not just giving opportunities to supply boats and other basic things; no, we are moving beyond that. We are talking about how communities can provide services, which capability we are going to build together in this relationship. So, we can tell that we are committed to building community capabilities, and we see that there is a great future; where they continue to be partners in progress.”
Olawuyi said human capital development was a key aspect of SPDC’s Nigerian Content development strategy, referring to the scholarship awards and the NCDMB/Shell/PETAN as well as SAP internships. He added: “All these are transformational. The testimonies of the individuals will touch and melt any heart; how their lives have been touched and how their fortunes have changed.”
The panel session ended with discussants stressing the need to involve professionals, youths and community stakeholders early in the implementation of projects to ensure they deliver the desired goals for companies and host communities.
