NCDMB Engages Nigerian Army, Unveils Local Content Breakthroughs.
By Raymond Enoch
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) recently hosted a delegation of senior Nigerian Army officers from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, as part of a local study tour aimed at deepening knowledge of local content implementation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
During an interactive session at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), the NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, highlighted Nigeria’s historical challenges in the oil and gas industry, particularly capital flight, job losses, and low local content before the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010.
He noted that before the Act, local content stood at less than 5%, leading to an estimated loss of $380 billion and two million jobs. However, through strategic enforcement and capacity development initiatives, local content has now risen to 56% as of the end of 2023, with a target of 70% by 2027.
Engr. Ogbe, represented by Dr. Ama Ikuru, Director of Corporate Services and Capacity Building, emphasized the Board’s commitment to research, development, and technology incubation, citing the establishment of Centres of Excellence in six universities across Nigeria.
He also acknowledged the Nigerian Army’s contributions to local content through advancements in human capital development and local manufacturing of military components.
The visiting officers, ranging from Lieutenant Colonel to General, were taken on a tour of the Board’s facilities, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TIIC), which supports innovators in technology adaptation and process improvement. Dr. Ikuru reiterated the significance of collaboration between the NCDMB and the military, noting that NCDMB personnel have served as resource persons at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.
Major General Abubakar A. Tarfa (rtd), leader of the NARC team, described the tour as a crucial part of the officers’ 11-month Leadership and Strategic Course 3/2024.
He emphasized the link between leadership, strategy, and national security, highlighting the military’s role in supporting oil production in the Niger Delta.
Lt. Col. Juliet Aziekwu, speaking on behalf of the visiting officers, expressed appreciation for the insights gained, stating, “We are better informed about the NCDMB and its role; we’ll put the knowledge into use.”
The event underscored the vital role of local content policies in national development and the potential for greater collaboration between the military and the oil and gas sector in fostering economic growth and security.
