Over the weekend, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) hosted a delegation of senior military officers from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, on a local study tour in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
During an interactive session, the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, provided an overview of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry over the past 50 years, focusing on key milestones in implementing the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.
He noted that before the Act’s enactment, the industry suffered significant capital flight, estimated at $380 billion, and the loss of two million jobs due to human capital deficits, with local content accounting for less than 5%. In contrast, the post-NOGICD Act era has seen remarkable growth in domestic capacity and capabilities, driven by strategic enforcement, industry monitoring, and targeted interventions by the NCDMB.
Engr. Ogbe highlighted that local content had reached 56% by the end of 2023, meaning 56% of the industry’s annual operational expenditure was retained within Nigeria. This progress has positioned the NOGICD Act and its implementation strategies as a model for other oil- and gas-producing nations in Africa. The NCDMB aims to achieve 70% local content by 2027.
He emphasized the Board’s commitment to ensuring that equipment, tools, and services required for oil and gas operations are manufactured and procured within Nigeria.
Discussing the Board’s achievements and future goals in capacity development, he stated, “We take research and development seriously,” citing the establishment of well-equipped centres of excellence in six universities, one in each geopolitical zone.
Representing the Executive Secretary, Dr. Ama Ikuru, Director of Corporate Services and Capacity Building, commended the Nigerian Army for its advancements in research, development, and local content initiatives, particularly in human capital development and the domestic production of military components.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, the General Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, described the visit as a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange. He encouraged the military officers—participants in the Leadership and Strategic Course 3/2024 at NARC—to share the success story of the NCDMB wherever they go.
The delegation’s team leader, Major General Abubakar A. Tarfa (rtd), explained that the Local Study Tour was an integral part of an 11-month leadership course. He noted that the team comprised professionals from various fields, including engineering, medicine, nursing, and administration.
