From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Local Content has lauded the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its robust efforts to enhance local participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This commendation was delivered by the Chairman of the committee, Senator Joel Thomas, alongside Vice Chairman, Senator Ede Dafinone, following a two-day oversight visit to the NCDMB headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Senator Thomas highlighted the board’s demonstrated capacity to fulfil the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to growing indigenous capacity within the sector.
Senator Dafinone expressed satisfaction with the board’s achievements, emphasising both the impressive physical infrastructure and the comprehensive capacity-building initiatives benefiting Nigerians. “This is the first oversight visit of the 10th Senate to the NCDMB. We had time with the Executive Secretary and his team to understand what they do and the results we’re seeing for Nigerians. I have to say we are impressed. The industrial park is nearly finished and already being occupied. But beyond the physical structures, the NCDMB’s work extends to training and human capacity development programmes that are crucial to the sector and to our national development,” he said.
The Vice Chairman, Senator Dafinone, also noted a significant milestone revealed in the board’s self-assessment report, which showed that Nigerians now constitute 56 per cent of the workforce in the oil and gas industry.
Highlighting regional equity, he stressed the importance of distributing oil and gas benefits fairly, particularly for Delta Central in the Niger Delta region. He called for enhanced infrastructure, skills training centres, and economic opportunities for the local population, while seeking updates on the ongoing construction of the NCDMB Industrial Park in Orogun.
During their visit, the committee engaged with NCDMB leadership, reviewed local content development strategies, and participated in technical sessions to verify the board’s compliance with the NOGICD Act’s objectives. The senators also toured key projects, including the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS), the NCDMB Gas Hub, the Conference Hotel building, and the NCDMB Crèche.