If there is to be speedy development in the oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will be playing a role. That is why the Board is committing to actions that ensure speedy approvals for the requests and documents needing its consent.

Eliminating bottlenecks is key to improving oil production outputs and the economic trajectory of Nigeria, which policymakers hope will always be positive.

Its Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe assured Chevron Nigeria Limited staff during a visit they embarked on last Friday. The Board exec at the meeting held at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, met with senior officials of Chevron, who were led by Deputy Managing Director Mr. Cosmas Iwueze.

The Executive Secretary expressed the Board’s willingness to improve upon the timelines set by the Service Level Agreement (SLA) established by the Board, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd), and international oil companies to shorten the contracting cycle for oil and gas projects.

He also reiterated his proposal for the creation of technical working groups (TWGs) consisting of representatives from NCDMB and respective international oil firms. These working groups could meet monthly or quarterly to evaluate the companies’ expectations from NCDMB regarding their projects. The purpose, he explained, is to resolve contentious issues, close all gaps, and come to an agreement before official correspondence is received. This will ensure quick turn-around, and approvals will be dealt with promptly, helping to reduce downtime.

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Emphasising the importance of compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, the Executive Secretary promised that the Board would respond promptly to urgent requests from companies to avoid delays that could lead to cost overruns and hurt oil and gas operations as well as the economy as a whole.

He encouraged companies to view NCDMB as partners in progress, stating, that we want to create an enabling environment that minimises conflicts with international oil companies (IOCs) and attracts investments into the sector.

 We want to create employment opportunities for our youth and help achieve the economic objectives of President Bola Tinubu. We want to make international oil companies comfortable and reverse the exit of foreign investors because they create jobs, and we need all hands on deck.

Ogbe revealed that he had a long and successful career with Chevron Nigeria and remarked that teamwork is the hallmark of the company. He noted that NCDMB operates with the same core value, and therefore, the Board is determined to support oil companies in achieving their operational goals. We have to ensure your success; otherwise, we will not be successful, he added.

The Executive Secretary confirmed that under his leadership, NCDMB would not emphasise the use of sanctions but would instead seek dialogue with companies to achieve win-win situations. We will be flexible regarding your requests, but we all need to have open minds and consider the critical paths that will ensure progress and effective production, he said.

Mr. Isaac Yalah, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at NCDMB, commended Chevron Nigeria for its support in developing the Nigerian Content Research Centre of Excellence at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State. He assured that the Board would continue to collaborate with Chevron on other projects and address any issues related to requests for expatriate quota approvals.

In response, Mr. Iwunze commended the Executive Secretary for promoting collaboration and working towards increasing crude oil production in Nigeria. He emphasised the importance of producing crude oil at competitive costs, noting that the primary goal of oil companies and the Federal Government is to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production volumes and boost revenue for the country.

The Deputy Managing Director stressed the need to incentivise investments in the oil and gas sector. He explained that international oil and gas companies in Nigeria compete for capital with their counterparts in other oil-producing nations. He stated the capital we need for major oil and gas investments is held by global investors. We must always present Nigeria as an investor-friendly destination where people can come and do business.

He also confirmed that the company was working on significant projects related to deep water and Escravos gas-to-liquids (EGTL), and he looked forward to receiving the Board’s support and collaboration when these projects come up for consideration and approval.

Meiza Nigeria