Implementation of Nigerian Content has
attracted foreign direct investments worth over $500m in the manufacturing of
equipment components for the Oil and Gas Industry, the Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke disclosed.
The Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Practical
Nigerian Content held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, which was attended by all the
Governor of the host state, Chief Henry Serieke Dickson, the Group Managing
Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Andy Yakubu, the Director
of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Osten Olurusola and the Managing
Directors of the six international operating companies.
Nigerian Content held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, which was attended by all the
Governor of the host state, Chief Henry Serieke Dickson, the Group Managing
Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Andy Yakubu, the Director
of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Osten Olurusola and the Managing
Directors of the six international operating companies.
The event also marked the signing of memorandum of understanding
between the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the Petroleum
Technology Association of Nigeria on a Pupilage/Internship Programme.
between the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the Petroleum
Technology Association of Nigeria on a Pupilage/Internship Programme.
According to the Minister, the
equipment components manufacturing initiative of the Board is an effective way
to drive industrialization of the Nigerian economy and is already creating over
1000 skilled jobs in Nigeria.
equipment components manufacturing initiative of the Board is an effective way
to drive industrialization of the Nigerian economy and is already creating over
1000 skilled jobs in Nigeria.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa explained that the initiative which
mandates original equipment manufacturers to partner with their representatives
to set up facilities to manufacture or assemble equipment components in Nigeria
will also ensure the retention of spend within the economy on critical industry
equipment such as valves, pumps, electrical and instrumentation products.
Ministry, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa explained that the initiative which
mandates original equipment manufacturers to partner with their representatives
to set up facilities to manufacture or assemble equipment components in Nigeria
will also ensure the retention of spend within the economy on critical industry
equipment such as valves, pumps, electrical and instrumentation products.
She expressed confidence that the
initiative will ensure that about 30 original equipment manufacturers will have
set up fully in Nigeria within the next five years.
initiative will ensure that about 30 original equipment manufacturers will have
set up fully in Nigeria within the next five years.
The Alison-Madueke described the Nigerian Content Act as the most
important development in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry in the past few
decades, noting that the impact of the Act was being felt in several sectors of
the economy.
important development in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry in the past few
decades, noting that the impact of the Act was being felt in several sectors of
the economy.
She said, “Nigerians now own land,
swamp, jack up rigs and some proportion of deep offshore rigs. More Nigerians
are acquiring Anchor Handling Tugs, Dynamic Positioning Platform Vessels, Line
Handling Tugs and other larger vessels otherwise called category 2 vessels.”
swamp, jack up rigs and some proportion of deep offshore rigs. More Nigerians
are acquiring Anchor Handling Tugs, Dynamic Positioning Platform Vessels, Line
Handling Tugs and other larger vessels otherwise called category 2 vessels.”
The Minister further directed the Board
to lead the industry to establish vessel and rig maintenance facilities so that
the Nigerian economy will realize maximum economic benefits from asset
ownership.
to lead the industry to establish vessel and rig maintenance facilities so that
the Nigerian economy will realize maximum economic benefits from asset
ownership.
In the area of training and employment, Alison-Madueke indicated
that the Board had also introduced guidelines that will ensure that investments
in the industry lead to employment generation and training opportunities.
that the Board had also introduced guidelines that will ensure that investments
in the industry lead to employment generation and training opportunities.
“In the last two years, over 5000 Nigerians have been provided
training and employment opportunities under the project based training scheme
of NCDMB,” she said.
training and employment opportunities under the project based training scheme
of NCDMB,” she said.
Describing the Nigerian Content Act as the most heralded
development in the oil and gas industry in the past few decades, the Minister
said developments in the sector had always impacted other sectors of the
Nigerian economy.
development in the oil and gas industry in the past few decades, the Minister
said developments in the sector had always impacted other sectors of the
Nigerian economy.
Speaking during the signing of the MoU,
the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa explained that service companies
would now be required to submit a pupilage programme, committing to employ
Nigerians as a precondition for participation in tenders.
the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa explained that service companies
would now be required to submit a pupilage programme, committing to employ
Nigerians as a precondition for participation in tenders.
“To qualify to play in the industry, you must demonstrate that you
are running an employment programme. Companies will employ young Nigerians and
put them through pupilage before the contracts are awarded, so they can work
when the contract is awarded,” he said.
are running an employment programme. Companies will employ young Nigerians and
put them through pupilage before the contracts are awarded, so they can work
when the contract is awarded,” he said.
Nwapa explained that PETAN was chosen for this programme, because
its members were the most enterprising players in the service end of the sector
and they were partnering voluntarily with NCDMB on the programme.
its members were the most enterprising players in the service end of the sector
and they were partnering voluntarily with NCDMB on the programme.
He added that the Petroleum Technology
Development Fund will also be involved in the programme.
Development Fund will also be involved in the programme.
The two day conference will culminate with a site visit to the
Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, Ogbele field on Wednesday.
Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, Ogbele field on Wednesday.
Culled from the Sweetcrude Reports, Wednesday, November 21st,
2012.
2012.
