Energy
NCDMB Emerges Best MDA In Ease Of Doing Business Ranking
By John Mommoh
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has been adjudged as the best among all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the country in the latest Executive Order (EO1) performance ranking for Ease of Doing Business from January to June 2022.
Executive Secretary, NCDMB Engr Simbi Kesiye Wabote
The report is compiled by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), under the office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
NCDMB came tops with 81.48 percent, according to the report, released officially on Tuesday in Abuja.
PEBEC was established in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari to address bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to executing business in Nigeria.
The implication of this performance ranking shows that NCDMB has delivered service in a quality, efficient and effective manner in the past six months to its diverse stakeholders.
Over the years, the Board has moved from the 27th position in 2019 to the most improved MDA in the country and the 3rd position in 2020, and presently the 1st in the country.
Commenting on the report, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote explained that the “trend of the positions the Board has been ranked shows the impressive level of work we have put into delivering quality service over the years. With the right attitude, training, and support, we have achieved the number one spot.”
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He challenged the staff of the Board that “whom much is given, more is expected. We would not rest on our oars and we will continue to give our utmost best and commitment to delivering quality service to our stakeholders and also explore areas of improvement.”
The Executive Secretary thanked the Directors, General Managers, Head of Departments, and staff of the Board, especially the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Akintude Adelana, and his team which includes the SERVICOM Team, the front desk staff, PEBEC reform champion and reform agents.
By this emergence as the top agency in the Ease of Doing Business Ranking, the NCDMB accomplished the target set by the Executive Secretary in June 2021 when he signed the Board’s SERVICOM Service charter.
He stated at the event that NCDMB is passionate about service delivery, and this is evident in the diligent and professional way the staff discharge their statutory responsibilities to the oil and gas industry and execute all Board’s activities.
He asserted that as part of the Board’s efforts to continuously improve service delivery, it trains the staff to improve their skills and competencies.
He hinted: “we want to be the number one government agency in the country, and we are working towards it.
To achieve this, we are investing in our people, our service delivery, and the turnaround time in everything that we do.”
Wabote mentioned that the Board signed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to ensure promptness and effectiveness in the delivery of its statutory responsibilities.
He said: “At some point, we challenged the oil and gas industry that we have a 15-day rule that anything they send to us and they do not get a response within 15 days, they should assume that it has been approved. Nobody has been able to take us to task on it because we meet the SLA that we signed.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and TotalEnergies have renewed their partnership on methane emissions reduction
The renewal involves extending the deployment of the Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA) technology across the NNPC Ltd’s upstream operations for another 24 months.
The extension is aimed at strengthening efforts to detect, measure and reduce methane and carbon emissions, while supporting the NNPC Ltd’s gas flaring reduction obligations and broader decarbonisation targets.
The development was disclosed in a statement under the signature of the NNPC Ltd’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, after the signing of the agreement at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the renewed agreement builds on an earlier deal signed in 2023 for the adoption of the AUSEA technology and is expected to help NNPC Ltd meet its commitments under the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), its participation in the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0, and its ambition to achieve near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
The agreement was signed by the NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, and TotalEnergies Country Chair and Managing Director, Matthieu Bouyer, on behalf of their respective organisations.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ntia expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the first phase of the technology’s deployment and called for its expansion across more assets.
“Today’s signing represents a practical step in NNPC Limited’s journey to build a credible, transparent and action-oriented decarbonisation programme. Through the AUSEA initiative, we are strengthening our ability to detect, quantify and prioritise methane abatement opportunities using advanced measurement technology,” he said.
Ntia also advocated the institutionalisation of progress reporting in line with compliance requirements and highlighted the potential for technology transfer to enhance local capacity in emissions monitoring and management.
On his part, TotalEnergies’ Senior Vice President for Africa, Mike Sangster, commended the long-standing cooperation between the two companies and reiterated TotalEnergies’ commitment to reducing emissions across its operations.
He noted that TotalEnergies was the first oil-producing company in Nigeria to eliminate routine gas flaring across all its assets, adding that the AUSEA technology played a significant role in achieving that milestone.
Sangster said the company remains focused on achieving near-zero methane emissions by 2030 and looks forward to deepening collaboration with NNPC Ltd in pursuit of that goal.
AUSEA is a drone-based emissions monitoring technology jointly developed by TotalEnergies, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims.
The technology enables operators to identify previously unaccounted emission sources, improve emissions reporting processes, review operational systems and implement corrective measures. It also provides estimates of flare combustion efficiency, helping operators strengthen environmental performance and regulatory compliance.
NNPC Ltd said the renewed partnership underscores the commitment of both companies to advancing cleaner energy operations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting Nigeria’s transition towards a more sustainable oil and gas industry.
Nigerians’ wailing over the escalating price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has caught the attention of the authorities.
Consequently, the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, while acknowledging this, reassured of the Federal Government remains commitment to ensuring adequate, reliable and affordable gas supply for households, industries and power generation across Nigeria.
It was gathered that interventions designed to stabilise the domestic LPG market, including the Minister’s directive that all LPG produced in Nigeria be prioritised for local consumption are already underway.
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The authorities claim that this policy intervention has already strengthened domestic supply, reduced dependence on imports and improved market resilience.
The recent price adjustments are driven largely by prevailing market realities such as foreign exchange volatility, rising logistics costs, infrastructure constraints and fluctuations in international LPG prices. These factors should not be misinterpreted as evidence of policy failure.
To address the situation, the Minister has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify engagement with producers, marketers and other stakeholders to sustain supply and enhance market stability.
On their part, Marketers have also committed to increasing import volumes to complement domestic production.
Furthermore, the commencement of LPG deliveries from the new Seplat gas facility in July will significantly boost national supply. The Minister also confirms that no producer is exporting LPG volumes designated for the domestic market, as regulatory measures remain firmly in place to prioritise local needs.
The outlook for LPG supply remains positive, and the Federal Government will continue to pursue measures that enhance availability, affordability and long‑term energy security for Nigerian consumers.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has confirmed that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme in Emeyal-1, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is moving closer to completion.
The NCDMB in a statement on Sunday under the signature of its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, assured that the facility would become operational in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The board maintained that it is working toward the set timeline and plans to install a 2.5-megawatt Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) power plant at the park to support its take-off.
“Towards the target date, the NCDMB is set to install a 2.5-megawatt Compressed Natural Gas power plant at the park,” the statement said.
The installation of the power plant, the NCDMB added, is a key requirement for operational readiness, as it will guarantee a stable and sustainable electricity supply for industrial activities within the park.
The statement followed an assessment visit to the facility by senior officials of the board on Friday. Ezeobi noted that the inspection showed visible progress in critical infrastructure and support systems.
He explained that the tour revealed significant advancement in infrastructure development aimed at positioning the park as a major industrial hub for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The inspection also confirmed steady progress across key infrastructure and support systems designed to establish the facility as a major industrial hub for the country’s oil and gas industry.
The NOGaPS project, according to the board, was conceived to deepen Nigerian content by creating a manufacturing base for oil and gas components, equipment and other inputs, while also generating employment opportunities.
“The Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme was conceived to deepen Nigerian content by providing a conducive environment for the manufacturing of components, equipment and other inputs required by the oil and gas industry, while creating employment opportunities for over 2,000 persons when fully operational and stimulating economic growth,” the statement added.
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Officials said several key facilities within the park have already been completed and are ready for use. These include manufacturing shop floors, a water treatment plant, accommodation facilities, classrooms, an amphitheatre, and residential apartments for trainers, facilitators and visiting guests.
The board also confirmed that alongside the planned CNG power plant, key power infrastructure such as switchgear buildings, transformers and heavy-duty generators have already been completed.
“In addition to the CNG power plant, NCDMB has also completed key power infrastructure, including the switchgear building, transformers and heavy-duty generators,” it stated.
It was further disclosed that a contract has been awarded for sand-filling of ponds within the facility. After completion, six manufacturing sheds will be constructed on the reclaimed land for investors and service providers.
The board said environmental maintenance activities, including landscaping and routine facility upkeep, are ongoing to preserve infrastructure and ensure readiness. It added that work is focused on ensuring all supporting infrastructure and utilities required for seamless operations are in place ahead of the park’s planned operational date.
When operational, the Oil and Gas Park Scheme is expected to serve as a strategic platform for the growth of indigenous manufacturing and service companies, reduce dependence on imported oil and gas components, create employment opportunities for Nigerians and strengthen local participation across the oil and gas value chain.
The board reiterated its commitment to delivering the project in line with its mandate of developing in-country capacity and advancing Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.
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