The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving 70% local content in the oil and gas industry by 2027. Engr. Felix Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, emphasized the critical role of host community integration in reaching this ambitious target.
Speaking at a one-day workshop themed “The Role of the Media in Maintaining the Tempo of Nigerian Content Implementation” held in Port Harcourt, Ogbe highlighted the Board’s strategy to deepen the contributions of the oil and gas sector to local communities through its Back-to-the-Creeks Initiative.
Ogbe, represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, outlined the initiative’s core focus areas, including supporting basic education, improving access to affordable finance for community contractors, and equipping youths with relevant industry skills. These efforts, he said, would drive economic growth and development in host communities.
The NCDMB has also increased its Community Contracting Financing Scheme, raising the single obligor limit from ₦20 million to ₦100 million. This upward review aims to empower contractors from host communities to secure and execute larger contracts in the oil and gas sector.
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“These measures are designed to minimize conflicts and foster a peaceful operating environment for oil and gas companies,” Ogbe explained.
He also called on journalists and media stakeholders to play an active role in scrutinizing and reporting on Nigerian Content initiatives. “The media has a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in these policy interventions, making the facts behind our in-country value addition known to all Nigerians,” Ogbe said.
The workshop featured three paper presentations and two panel discussions, drawing participation from over 90 media organizations. It provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing media engagement in promoting Nigerian Content policies.
