GOV DICKSON WANTS OIL COMPANIES TO SET UP BASES IN AREAS OF EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION

GOV DICKSON WANTS OIL COMPANIES TO SET UP BASES IN AREAS OF EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION

 Bayelsa State Governor Hon Seriake Dickson has asked the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB) to address the issue of multinational oil companies having operational bases outside their areas of exploration. 

Governor Dickson made the call in Yenagoa, at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between NCDMB and Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, (PETAN) to develop an internship programme for young Nigerian graduates to become technicians, technocrats and engineers in areas relevant to the oil and gas industry. Speaking on the topic, “The Role of Oil Bearing States and Enhancing Local Content Development” the Governor  stressed that, while the board was making efforts to promote local content in the oil and gas industry, it should consider the involvement of the people of the oil producing states in all aspects of the industry. 

He recalled that Bayelsa State was the place where crude oil was first struck in commercial quantities, stating that the area now presents what he described as, “a metaphor of what it is today and what it is likely to be tomorrow, a story of neglect.” According to Hon. Dickson, if a census is conducted about those who own oil blocs and oil wells it will be revealed that indigenous participation is lacking in both the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. 

He further said that those who engage in what he called, “mega deals in the oil industry and stay in mega cities” do so at the detriment and development of the local economies of the areas where oil exploration and exploitation activities take place.Hon. Dickson who noted that the local Content board is dear to him in view of the challenges of job and skills creation , expressed optimism that the 3-day conference would stimulate intellectual discussions. He expressed government’s preparedness to collaborate with the board through the hosting of the board’s annual conference in the state.

Delivering a keynote address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr Ernest Nwapa, stressed that for Nigeria to actually become a major oil producer in the world, it must make concerted efforts to own critical components of the resources in the industry.Engr. Nwapa also emphasized the need to develop a competent in-country training and certifying body for building the much needed human capital to drive the oil and gas sector with a view to reducing the current high level of capita flight being suffered by the country.

He however noted that through the contributions of the NCDMB, there is increased indigenous participation in the industry, adding that in the next couple of years, local operations would begin to take greater share of the reserves and production capacity in the sector.In their separate good will messages, the minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke and the group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Engr. Andrew Yakubu commended the Dr. Jonathan led administration for enacting enabling laws to promote economic development by integrating the oil and gas business to other segments of the economy.

The NNPC GMD particularly noted that the activities of NCDM in implementing the Nigerian  oil and gas industry Content Development Act 2010 significantly accounts for the increased indigenous participation in the upstream sector from 10% to 30%.In the areas of asset ownership and human capacity development, Mrs. Allison-Madueke maintained that the present administration has used regulation to drive ownership of marine vessels and Oil Rigs by Nigerians.

She added that “in the last 2 years, over 5,000 Nigerians have been provided training and employment opportunities under the project based training scheme of NCDMB”.       The MOU was signed at a 3-day conference tagged The 2nd Practical Nigerian Content Conference at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, the state capital. The programme is expected to accelerate capacity building relevant to the development of the industry.

 Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State