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NCDMB to Sanction Companies for Non-compliance with HCD Guidelines

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NCDMB to Sanction Companies for Non-compliance with HCD Guidelines

Modupe ASUDO

ABUJA-THE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board says it will sanction companies that default or fail to comply with the Human Capacity Development provisions contained in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote made this known on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address at the second edition of the Virtual Stakeholders workshop for Human Capacity Development in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.

Engr Simbi Kesiye Wabote: Five Years of Impact at NCDMB

Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr Simbi Kesiye Wabote

Speaking on the topic, Human Capacity Development: The Pillar for Nigeria’s industrialization, the NCDMB chieftain warned that the Board would enforce periodic forensic audit for HCD programmes and companies found violating the NOGICD Act 2010 and the Ministerial Regulations in executing cost intensive Capacity Development Initiatives as mandated by the Act would be sanctioned.

He said: “it has come to the attention of the Board that some operating companies and services companies are reluctant to implement the HCD programmes as directed by the Board. Most of the companies are testing the mettle of the Board and I want to use this opportunity to inform erring companies that the Board will meet appropriate sanctions to them as prescribed by the Act”.

He added that the Board is mandated to ensure that the industry derives maximum benefits from huge investments and also ensure beneficiaries of the HCD training programmes find gainful employment in the industry.

Stressing on the importance of human capacity development, Wabote said,”with the rapid advancement in technologies used in the oil and gas industry, our industry will continue to be manned by foreigners and expats, if we do not keep pace with the spate of technological development by developing the human capabilities required for the challenges of modern industrial technologies. It is with a view to developing the Nigerian workforce capable of leading and advancing technological developments in the oil and Gas industry and supporting the attainment of Nigerian local Content aspirations that the proponents of the NOGICD Act deemed it necessary to include clauses that mandate Employment and Training in the Act.”

Wabote commended the efforts of some operating companies and services companies that comply with the directives of the Board, noting that the future of the industry will be at risk without adequate investment in Human Capacity Development. He reiterated that Nigeria is leading Africa on Human Capacity Development in the oil and Gas industry.

“I can proudly say that we have the skilled workforce to lead and sustain the development of oil fields in Africa for the foreseeable future. All the major and serious oil and gas operating and service companies have Nigerians in very senior leadership positions and we are beginning to export our workforce across the world”, he added.

The Nigerian Content Boss further revealed that that the Board has trained over 13,000 workforce in different skill areas and over 5,000 are gainfully employed in the industry. He mentioned that various capacity development initiatives have been executed by the Board including upgrading and commissioned dilapidated facilities in vocational and tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers States; trained the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers in secondary schools and promoted Technical vocational Educational Systems (TVETS) policy across the country and equipping them with modern tools and machines and completed the ultra-modern vocational centre of excellence which was initiated by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in Port Harcourt;

This year’s edition of the Human Capital Development (HCD) Workshop is aimed at Revamping Training and Development in the Oil and Gas industry in a post COVID-19 world while raising compliance with the new HCD Learning & Development Plan. It also seeks to improve “employability” of trainees as well as adopt technology to accelerate the quality and speed of training development.

 

Energy

Nigeria’s First Energy Infrastructure Map for Unveiling at NOG 2026

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In what is expected to provide investors and industry stakeholders with a detailed overview of Nigeria’s energy assets and opportunities, her first comprehensive Gas and Power Infrastructure Map will be unveiled at the 25th edition of NOG Energy Week.

It was gathered that the publication, developed by the Gas for Africa programme in partnership with NNPC Limited, will be launched during the annual energy conference in Abuja and is being positioned as a major step towards improving transparency and investment decision-making in Nigeria’s gas and power sectors.

Industry stakeholders have long cited the lack of consolidated and reliable infrastructure data as a major challenge to attracting investment into the sector. The new map seeks to address that gap by providing a single source of information on Nigeria’s gas and power infrastructure, including pipelines, gas processing facilities, power generation assets, LNG terminals and key transmission networks.

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Alongside the infrastructure map, organisers will also release a comprehensive report on Nigeria’s gas sector, which they describe as the most extensive industry intelligence publication ever produced on the country’s gas value chain.

The report examines developments in the sector since 2020 and covers key areas such as the NNPC Gas Master Plan 2026, gas reserves and production trends, pipeline infrastructure, capacity challenges, compressed natural gas (CNG), piped natural gas (PNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets, gas-to-power projects and gas-based industrialisation.

According to the organisers, the publication provides an end-to-end assessment of Nigeria’s gas industry and offers critical insights for investors, policymakers and industry operators.

The launch comes at a time when global energy markets are undergoing significant shifts, driven by geopolitical tensions and increasing demand for alternative and secure energy supplies.

Organisers noted that Nigeria is strengthening its position as a major energy player, supported by rising crude oil production, implementation of a new Gas Master Plan and expanding refining capacity.

They said the infrastructure map and accompanying report are expected to help convert investor interest into concrete projects by providing accurate data on existing assets, infrastructure gaps and future opportunities across the sector.

Attendees at NOG Energy Week will be the first to access both publications as government officials, energy executives, investors and industry leaders gather in Abuja for the five-day event.

The conference is also expected to feature investment discussions, joint venture announcements, memorandum of understanding signings and project partnerships aimed at advancing Nigeria’s energy development agenda.

With preparations gathering momentum ahead of the event, organisers said NOG Energy Week 2026 will provide a platform for stakeholders to examine the future of Nigeria’s energy sector and its role in Africa’s broader energy transition and industrial growth.

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Energy

OPEC+ Increases Production Quotas for July

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OPEC+ ministers decided Sunday to increase oil quotas by a total 188,000 barrels per day for July, in a move analysts said would be unlikely to have an impact on prices sent higher by the Mideast war.

Jorge Leon, analyst at Rystad Energy, said ahead of the expected increase that it “means very little while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed”.

He added: “The market is not short of quota announcements; it is short of physical barrels that can actually move. In that sense, the 188,000 barrels per day increase would be more of a policy signal than a real supply boost.”

The hiked production output was agreed Sunday in a video meeting of oil ministers from key OPEC+ countries Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, a statement from the organisation said.

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The increase was similar to ones decided in previous months.

The OPEC+ statement said the latest agreed hike was “to support oil market stability” but that the seven countries also saw an opportunity “to accelerate their compensation” in a time of historically high oil prices.

It added that the ministers “reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments announced in November 2023”.

Leon, at Rystad Energy, said that OPEC+ was wary in case the Mideast war changes, and Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz eases.

“When the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the market could move very quickly from fear of shortage to fear of surplus,” he said.

“Returning OPEC+ supply, a stronger US shale response and weaker demand after a period of very high prices could leave the market with a very large oversupply problem,” he said.

AFP

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Nigeria, Algeria, Niger Back Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project

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Nigeria, Algeria, and Niger have expressed joint commitment to the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project, which is set to significantly strengthen Africa’s regional energy security.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made the disclosure on Thursday at the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the TSGP Steering Committee in Algiers.

The high-level session included ministerial delegations from the three participating nations and a strategic consultation with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the successful delivery of the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project, describing it as a landmark initiative that will redefine energy security across the continent.

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According to Ekpo, technical and commercial discussions are ongoing among stakeholders to reinforce the regulatory and financial frameworks required for the project’s implementation.

He noted that officials from the three countries have reviewed the latest feasibility reports and officially resolved that the project proceeds immediately into its next development phases.

“This project means a lot to the three countries in terms of industrialisation and job creation,” Ekpo asserted.

“We’ve talked about the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, and the President of Algeria has expressed his interest in the completion of the project,” Ekpo said. “I assure him that on the part of Nigeria, we will do everything possible to ensure the project sees the light of day.”

The minister pledged to work closely with his counterparts in Algeria and Niger, as well as the respective national oil companies — including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Algeria’s Sonatrach — to accelerate project implementation.

On his part, President Tebboune reaffirmed Algeria’s full diplomatic and financial commitment to the pipeline.
He expressed confidence that with the robust political will demonstrated by the three governments, the pipeline will seamlessly move from planning to execution.

Tebboune noted that when completed, the transnational pipeline would deliver energy security, lucrative investment opportunities, and sustainable economic development for millions of people across Africa and European export markets.

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