NEWS
NCDMB Completes 83% Of Nigeria’s Content Roadmap
. . . Wabote Cautions Against Relapse In Local Content Drive
The 12th Practical Nigerian Content Forum 2023 got underway on Tuesday at the Nigerian Content Towers, Yenagoa, with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote announcing that the agency has completed 83 percent of the 96 initiatives it started under the Nigerian Content 10-year Strategic Roadmap.
The strategic roadmap was launched at the end of the year 2017, with the goal of increasing Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry to 70 percent by the year 2027. The roadmap is undergirded by five pillars and four enablers to drive the focus areas and are supported with short, medium, and long-term initiatives.
Presenting the scorecard of the NCDMB at the PNC which is attended by over 700 oil and gas stakeholders, the Executive Secretary indicated that the Board’s focus would shift to the remaining initiatives, which according to him required some heavy lifting to bring them to fruition.
He reported that Nigerian Content level in 2023 stood at 54 per cent, just like in 2022. The calculation is based on the Board’s monitoring and evaluation of industry activities.
According to him, “this performance is well above the minimum target of 47 percent Nigerian Content set for 2023 by the Board’s Project Management Office (PMO) just like we outperformed the 42 percent Nigerian Content target set for 2022 by achieving 54 percent Nigerian Content.”
He indicated that the top three performers of in-country spend are Shipping, Surveying/ Positioning services, and Inspection/ Testing and Certification with each at 100 percent NC level, while the bottom three performers are Modification and Maintenance at 26 percent NC level; Health, Safety and Environment at 31 percent NC level; and Materials and Procurement at 32 percent NC level.
He expressed concern that the stagnation of the Nigerian Content achievement at 54 percent raised questions on whether we had reached a point of stagnation or an inflection, leading to the decline in Nigerian Content level in the oil and gas industry.
The NCDMB boss, who was making his last PNC Keynote Address as the Executive Secretary of NCDMB reminded the top government functionaries and industry stakeholders that “getting the industry to this level of Nigerian Content is not a walk in the park,” and called on all stakeholders to “play their part to prevent the industry from rolling back to the dark days of implementing Nigerian Content as a token of consolation.
He cautioned that “The nexus between high Nigerian Content levels and the relative peace in the industry must not be lost on us,” noting that a “a lack of leadership backing at all levels opens the door for the practice to take the back seat.”
The Executive Secretary took the occasion to present what he termed “a reflection on the journey in the last seven and a half years of being in the saddle as the Executive Secretary.”
Citing data from the Board’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC-JQS), he said registered indigenous industry operators have increased from 53 in 2018 to 114 in 2023, while indigenous service companies increased from 8,000 to 11,000 within the same period. Also, individual registrations surged from 140,000 to almost 400,000.
Under one of five pillars of the Roadmap, namely, Technical Capability Development, are other major accomplishments, one of which is the increase in in-country fabrication capacity from 60,000 tons per year to 250,000 tons within the aforesaid period.
Engr. Wabote disclosed that eight industrial parks being developed by the Board to support manufacturing and assembly of equipment and input materials required in the industry are at various stages of execution. He reported that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS) at Emeyal-1, in Bayelsa State, and a similar Park at Odukpani in Cross River State are due for commissioning in the first half of 2024.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, commended the NCDMB for its outstanding performance in local content implementation, and for the ongoing PNC Forum.
He assured the industry stakeholders that the Federal Government is committed to promoting cleaner, more sustainable practices within the energy sector, even as the country continues with hydrocarbon extraction.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Lokpobiri was represented at the PNC by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda. He said Nigeria aligns with the global push for environmental stewardship and would explore all means of making production processes conform to cleaner technologies.
While drawing attention to the theme of the Forum, “Deepening Nigerian Content Amidst Divestments, Domestication and Decarbonisation,” the Minister called on stakeholders to “embrace the challenges that have been posed by divestment to actively promote domestication and steadfastly pursue the path of Decarbonization.”
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, lauded the NCDMB and its Management for extraordinary successes and charged participants to explore avenues for collaboration, joint ventures, and partnerships that will help Nigeria to fully harness Nigerian Content potentialities.
The Kano State Police Command has warned residents of a potential terror attack, targeting public gatherings in strategic locations across the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed that intelligence reports indicated suspected terrorists were planning to carry out attacks.
“The Kano State Police Command, in liaison with other security agencies, has received intelligence reports of suspected terrorists planning to launch attacks on public gatherings in strategic locations within Kano State.
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“In response, we hereby urge residents to exercise caution and avoid crowded places and environments until further notice as a preventive measure to enable security operatives to identify and dislodge possible attackers,” the statement read.
To address the threat, the police command has enhanced security arrangements across the state. SP Haruna revealed that specialized units, including the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) teams, have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“A team of experts from the command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear units have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“The unit can be contacted through: 08169884988 or 07067157218 for report of suspicious persons or item(s),” Haruna stated.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or contact the command through the designated hotlines.
“The command remains committed to protecting lives and properties as well as maintaining law and order in Kano State.
“We appreciate the support and cooperation of the good people of Kano State and urge everyone to remain vigilant. Your vigilance and cooperation are crucial in ensuring public safety,” the statement concluded.
NEWS
Ifon-Ilobu-Erin Osun Land Disputes: Osun Constitutes A 100-Member Boundary Resolution Committee
In the bid to resolve the incessant land disputes between the communities of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has constituted an enlarged 100-member high powered land crisis resolution committee in which each of the affected communities has 25 representatives, and the state government represented by 25 members.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi made the disclosure in a statement in Osogbo, on Friday.
He revealed that the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Adetunji Olanipekun Larooye is the Chairman of the Committee, while a retired judge of Osun State Judiciary and Chairman, Osun State Boundary Commission, Justice Moshood Adekunle Adeigbe, would serve as the Co-Chairman.
According to Alimi, Gov Adeleke put in place the Committee with a view to bringing a lasting end to the incessant land disputes among the three affected communities.
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It was gleaned from the statement that there were four other traditional rulers on the panel, including His Royal Majesty; Oba Abioye Oyebode, the Olokuku of Okuku, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adams Iyiola Bamidele Yusuf, the Oloba of Oba Oke, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adekeye Oyedare, the Oloyan of Oyan and His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Ogungbamgbe,The Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesha.
Other members are Umar Abba Mohammed, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ayoola Kehinde, Osun State Director, Department of State Services( DSS) Brigadier General, Aliu Mohammed, Commander E.C.C, Ede, Sotiyobo Igbalawola, Osun State Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps( NSCDC), Anthony Chikezie, Commander, Immigration Service, Osun State, Adekunle Omoyele, Osun State Commander, Amotekun Corps, and Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Security, Barrister Dare Ojo.
Also on the enlarged Committee, where members are enjoined by Gov Adeleke to bring in their wealth of experience to bear on the highly critical assignment, are the Chairman, NBA Osogbo branch, Yemi Abiona, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ikirun, Niyi Akinsola, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ile Ife, Tope Olajoko, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ilesha, Raymond Oki, Esq; Others appointed to serve on the Ifon- Ilobu- Erin Osun Peace Resolution Committee are; Soladoye Abioye, the Surveyor General of Osun State – Dr Sodiq Olohunde, Office of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Marufat Adekemi Bello, Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Justice – Femi Ogundun,- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Govt and Chiertincy Affairs, Dr Fritz Mobolaji Olaoye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.
Completing the list of the Committee members are Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Osun NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Osun Civil Society Coalition and Comrade Saka Mao, a Public Affairs Analyst
The statement has it that Gov Adeleke, will on Tuesday, the 28th of January, 2025 perform the swearing in ceremony of the 100-member enlarged Ifon, Ilobu, Erin Osun Land Crisis Resolution Committee, at the Multi purpose hall of Local Government Service Commission, State Government Secretariat, Abere Osogbo by 11:00am.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged the Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Control Management Agency (EDSTMA), Engr. Stainless Ijeghede on indiscriminate parking and traffic gridlock, especially in market areas.
According to a statement in Benin City on Friday, by Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, his principal gave the charge while decorating Ijeghede with his new rank as the head of EDSTMA.
He noted that while addressing the new Managing Director and his personnel at the Exco Chambers in Government House, Gov Okpebholo pointed out that the agency should do its job well by ensuring free flow of traffic across the state.
He called on Ijeghede and men of the agency to ensure they checked indiscriminate parking of vehicles and buses, especially in market areas.
“Edo State belongs to all of us and whatever we are doing, we should do it with care not to harm anybody. I appeal to EDSTMA to ensure that the city is well kept because whenever I drive round town, I see vehicles everywhere as the city is not well kept.
“This is your primary assignment. You should ensure the city is well kept as vehicles park indiscriminately and they are causing obstruction. Traffic is not flowing as it should and it is causing serious gridlock. Is it that you are not doing your job well?
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“Is it that you are not doing your job well or because you have a new leader that is why traffic is not flowing, or because you don’t know your job?
“You people should wake up and keep the state clean. Make sure that vehicles are parked well especially in the market areas. Monitor markets very well as these areas are looking really unkempt with vehicles and buses parked indiscriminately, causing traffic gridlock. Edo people are worst hit. They suffer from this. Ensure free flow of traffic so that the people will be happy,” Governor Okpebholo emphasized.
The EDSTMA boss, thanked Gov Okpebholo for the opportunity to serve the people of Edo State and assured him of the loyalty of the agency.
He added that his men will do their job professionally and ensure that the is free flow of traffic across the state.
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Okpebholo Moves To End Indiscriminate Parking, Gridlock In Edo State
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