The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) says it rejected 328 expatriate applications from oil firms in the last 12 months.
This was as it said that the Board hit 83 per cent of its 10-tear roadmap target
Manager, strategy, NCDMB, Mr. Olubisi Okunola, stated this at a one-day capacity building workshop for media stakeholders in Lagos, yesterday.
Okunola maintained that the board received more applications for expatriates quota in 2023 than in 2022, leading to more rejection in 2023 than in 2022.
Giving the latest Nigerian Content data released this month to journalists, Okunola said; “In 2023, 1,484 applications for expatriates were received by the board, 1,156 requests were granted, while 328 applications were rejected.
‘’Compare this to 2022 data, there were 1,125 applications, 943 requests were granted, while 172 applications were denied.”
Reiterating Okunola’s view, Manager, Corporate Communications of NCDMB, Esueme Dan Kikile, said that the board has achieved “83 per cent level of achievement for its 10-year roadmap.”
“The foundation for NCDMB was laid in 2001 when former President Olusequn Obasanjo, inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Local Content in the Oil and Gas Industry. He mandated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to drive the policy and set certain targets.
In its efforts to implement the policy, the national oil company set up the Nigerian Content Division within its system and issued some Nigerian content directives to industry stakeholders.”
“Since there was no force of law behind the Nigerian content directives, operators of the industry found it convenient to comply on the best endeavour basis, and other industry stakeholders to work closely with the National Assemblv to develop the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Bill.
During the succeeding administration of late President Umaru YarAdua/Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly passed the NOGICD Bill.
President Goodluck Jonathan assented the Bill into law on April 22 and this gave birth to the NCDMB.
Dr. Ernest Nwapa, former staff of the Nigerian Content Division of NNPC served as the pioneer Executive Secretary from April 2010 to May 2015. He was succeeded by Mr. Denzel Kentebe who served in acting capacity.
In September 2016, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote was appointed as the 3rd substantive Executive Secretary of the Board,’’
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, had last week sacked Wabote and replaced him with Felix Omatsola Ogbe, alongside new Governing Council members.
The President said he expects the appointees to discharge their duties with patriotic resolve to significantly enhance indigenous industry participation in the energy sector as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s mandate to achieve the goal of 70 per cent indigenous content during the lifespan of the present administration.