By JOHNMARK UKOKO
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the authorities of the Senegalese Petroleum Industry have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide Nigeria’s support for the development of Local Content in Senegal.
This agreement was reached during a meeting in Lagos between the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, and top officials of the Senegalese petroleum industry.
This is part of Nigeria’s strategic support to the development of local content across the African continent, which has already been extended to Ghana, Niger Republic, Uganda, Kenya, Gabon, and Congo Brazzaville, The Trumpet gathered.
Speaking after the meeting, Wabote stated that the MoU will provide the pathway for the details of the collaboration, stressing the need for cooperation among African countries for the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry in the continent.
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Wabote added that Nigeria has acquired a lot of experience in local content development and is well-positioned to support other African nations that had discovered hydrocarbon resources recently.
The Senegalese team was led by the Technical Secretary of the National Committee for Local Content, Mor Ndiaye Mbaye, who said his nation was a new entrant to the oil industry and was keen on building local capacities and domesticating key operations in the sector.
Mbaye added that they decided to learn best practices in local content from Nigeria to make the implementation in their country a reality.
Speaking, pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr Ernest Nwapa, described the planned MoU between Nigeria and Senegal as evidence that key initiatives of Nigerian Content development had been consolidated over the years and had become a model for African countries.
He underscored the need for the Senegalese government to take its local content policy seriously, design a plan for implementation and pay greater attention to capacity building of the locals.