Category Archives: Senate Commitee

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday in Yenagoa got the thumbs-up from the Senate Committee on Local Content and a firm assurance that the Senate would provide adequate legislative support to drive the local content development initiatives of the Board.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas who spoke after an oversight visit on the Board facilities and projects sities within Bayelsa State commended the Board for how it has implemented its enabling statute, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.

He said NCDMB has demonstrated the requisite capacity for actualisation of the objectives of the Act, and that the enabling environment for oil and gas industry operations, growth of indigenous businesses, job creation and development of industry-related skills, would be vigorously pursued by the Committee at the National Assembly.

The Chairman reafirmmed President Bola Tinubu commitment to growing local capacity in the oil and gas and other sectors as a sure way of creating employment.

In his word, “ let me say that the benefits of local content cannot be over emphasize. It will lead to the creation of jobs for our people, development of critical assets and skills , growth of local businesses, improve balance of payments and reduction of dependence on foreign goods services.

“To achieve these benefits, collaborations between the Senate committee and board of the NCDMB is essential as we would work closely with the NCDMB to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented effectively.”

“The committee will not only ensure oversight but will also support the board’ in efforts to develop and implement policies that promote local content development, in addition to our collaboration with the board, we will engaged with other stakeholders and create the enabling environment that foster growth for local businesses and promote job creation.” Onowakpo concldued.

Earlier in his presentation on NCDMB Activities, the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe provided critically important facts on the NOGICD Act,

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Nigerian Content Implementation Framework, NCDMB Organisation Structure, NCDMB Office Locations, Expenditure and Revenue Analysis, Business Enabler Footprint, Summary of Investments, Success Stories, Look Ahead – Retooling for Stability and Growth, and Support Required.

Speaking on the Nigerian Content Implementation Framework, he highlighted Guidelines and Regulations, drawing attention to policies and tools, which included Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualifications System (NOGIC JQS), Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), industry collaboration, as well as gap analysis, among other things.

The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu disclosed the Board’s has recorded success in the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF) managed by the Bank of Industry (BOI) with over ninety percent repayment.

Halilu highlighted some recent striking accomplishments of the Board as facilitating of 10,000 metric tonnes (MT) capacity galvanising plant, commissioned at Daewoo Yard, Port Harcourt, which has ramped up local galvanizing capacity to over 180,000MT; NEDO 300MMscfd Kwale Gas Gathering Plant, Delta State; NCDMB Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) at Emeyal 1, Bayelsa State, and Odukpani, Cross River State, which are at 90 per cent completion level;10 mega watt Power Plant, and EGINA floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) integration facility, the first and largest in Africa.

Speaking on the next phase, Halilu highlighted the Board’s  ongoing construction of the NCDMB Gas Hub for gas-based industries and the work on its eight industrial parks across the country as well as the human capacity development programme christened Back-to-the-Creeks Initiative.

He asked the legislatures to support the Board by exclusing of the Nigerian Content Development Fund from revenue deductions in line with Section 104 of the NOGICD Act. The Board would also want the challenge of infrastructure to be addressed as well as a strengthening of local content laws by ensuring that legislations for the growth of other sectors are properly aligned with local content philosophy.

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In his remarks,  the Committee Vice Chairman, Senator Ede Dafinone, assured that the National Assembly would collaborate with the NCDMB to enthrone a resilient and Nigerian-driven oil and gas industry.

According to him, “They have shared with us areas where the Senate can help expand and strengthen their programmes. We are ready to engage further and support the Board in building a more robust and Nigerianised oil and gas industry.”

Other members of the Senate Committee on the oversight visit were Senators Osita Izunaso, Ipalibo Gogo Banigo, Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Aniekan Bassey, Eze Kenneth Emeka, Ezra Okechukwu, Isa Shu’aibu Lau, Tony Nwoye, John Williams Eno, Amos Yohana, and Ezra Okehukwu. The engagements ended on Thursday.

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

The Senate Committee on Local Content has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to boosting local capacity development by creating more employment opportunities for the nation’s growing population of graduates and artisans.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, made this known on Thursday during an oversight visit to the iconic Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Senator Thomas, who represents Delta South Senatorial District, stated that the committee’s mandate—outlined in Order 96 of the Senate Standing Orders (2023, as amended)—is to ensure that Nigerians benefit maximally from the country’s natural resources.

He called on all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to support the Federal Government’s drive to generate employment through enhanced local content initiatives.

“The benefits of local content cannot be overstated,” he emphasized. “Our collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is vital to achieving our desired goals as outlined in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, which must be implemented to the letter.”

He noted that the oversight visit aimed to verify NCDMB’s compliance with the real intent of the NOGICD Act of 2010.

According to the senator, the NCDMB is charged with the responsibility of increasing Nigerian participation in the oil and gas sector by creating economic opportunities and improving the livelihoods of citizens.

He assured the board of the committee’s continued support in fostering an enabling environment for local businesses to thrive.

Receiving the committee members, Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the senators for their oversight visit to the Nigerian Content Tower—the board’s operational base—to assess ongoing developments.

Engr. Ogbe highlighted some of the board’s significant achievements, including the ongoing “Back to the Creeks Initiative,” aimed at reaching remote and host communities. Under the program, the board supports indigent students who are unable to pay their WAEC fees, enabling them to participate in their examinations.

He reiterated the board’s commitment to its mandate and expressed optimism that the Senate’s visit would positively impact its operations and drive greater output in the oil and gas sector.

Also speaking, the NCDMB’s Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, described the board’s efforts as a “50-50 win situation,” noting that the board had made substantial investments in the sector.

As part of the visit, the Senate Committee members toured the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGAPS) at Emeyal 1 in Ogbia Local Government Area. The team was guided around the facility by Project Manager, Engr. Kelly Olali, who answered questions from the senators and explained various aspects of the project.

Members of the Senate Committee on Local Content present at the visit included Senator Ede Dafinone (Vice Chairman), Senator Eze Kenneth Emeka, Senator Ezra Okechukwu, Senator Isa Shu’aibu Lau, Senator Tony Nwoye, Senator Anthony Ani, Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, Senator Amos Yohanna, Senator John Williams Enoh, Senator Aniekan Bassey, Senator Osita Izunaso, and Senator Ipalibo Gogo Banigo.

SOURCE: VANGUARD

The Senate Committee has pledged unwavering legislative support to bolster the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s (NCDMB) drive for local content advancement in the oil and gas sector.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, made this commitment during an oversight visit to NCDMB’s facilities and project sites in Bayelsa State. He lauded the Board’s effective implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010 and commended its efforts toward actualizing the objectives of the legislation.

Senator Onowakpo stated that NCDMB has demonstrated the capacity to create an enabling environment for the oil and gas industry, stimulate the growth of indigenous businesses, foster job creation, and enhance the development of industry-specific skills. He assured that the Committee would work vigorously to support these goals within the National Assembly.

Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to expanding local capacity across strategic sectors, Onowakpo emphasized the far-reaching benefits of local content development.

“The benefits of local content cannot be overemphasized,” he said. “It drives job creation, infrastructure and skills development, growth of local enterprises, improves our balance of payments, and reduces overdependence on foreign goods and services.”

He stressed the importance of collaboration between the Senate Committee and the NCDMB to ensure effective implementation of the Act. The Committee, he said, would provide both oversight and policy support, engage with stakeholders, and help foster a business-friendly environment that promotes sustainable growth.

Earlier in the visit, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Abdulmalik Halilu, presented a comprehensive overview of the Board’s activities.

The Senate Committee on Local Content has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to working closely with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to enhance the localisation of the workforce in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Ede Dafinone, stated this on Thursday during a two-day oversight visit to the NCDMB headquarters in Yenagoa.

He noted that the committee was impressed with the board’s efforts to boost in-country production of equipment used in the oil and gas industry.

Dafinone expressed the National Assembly’s readiness to collaborate with the board in building a more resilient and Nigerian-driven oil and gas sector, which he said would significantly boost the national economy.

He said, “We have come to the end of one of our oversight visits. This is the first oversight visit of the 10th Senate to the NCDMB, and we have spent some time with the Executive Secretary and his team to understand the work being done here and the impact on Nigerians. I must say, we are impressed.

“The Executive Secretary and his team took us around one of their projects — the industrial park — which is nearing completion and has already started to attract occupants. There are also other industrial parks they have completed. The work of the NCDMB goes beyond what we can physically see on the ground.

“They are also focused on training and capacity-building programmes for Nigerians, which is another vital area. I believe we will see even more from the NCDMB in the future. NCDMB has assessed itself and currently places its Nigerian content achievement at 56% in terms of workforce localisation in the oil and gas sector.

“They have shared with us areas where the Senate can help expand and strengthen their programmes. We are ready to engage further and support the board in building a more robust and Nigerianised oil and gas industry.”

Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who led the oversight visit, said the committee’s mandate is to ensure Nigerians benefit maximally from the nation’s oil and gas resources.

He assured that the committee would work to create an enabling environment that encourages business growth, promotes job creation, and develops critical skills and assets — a mission the NCDMB is already actively advancing.

Thomas further stated that the National Assembly remains committed to increasing Nigeria’s participation in the oil and gas industry to generate economic opportunities and improve livelihoods across the country.

He reaffirmed the Senate’s support for the NCDMB’s efforts to develop and implement policies that will drive local content development.

Welcoming the Senate Committee, Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe revealed that 10 firms have applied to occupy the Industrial Park at Emeyal 1 in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Ogbe used the opportunity to advocate for the exclusion of the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) from revenue deductions, in line with Section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, which established the fund to support Nigerian content development.

He explained that the board is targeting firms capable of producing essential equipment for the oil and gas sector — such as bolts and nuts — as well as those engaged in fabrication, tailoring, and the production of safety gear, once operations begin at the park.

“Companies are already showing interest in occupying spaces at the park. Facility managers are currently cleaning up the completed areas in preparation for occupancy. We believe that before the end of the year — once power is running and generators are in place — we will be ready to allocate spaces to qualified applicants.

“As of now, we have 10 applications, with six meeting the requirements. We are engaging with those companies and encouraging more credible firms to apply. We are looking for small and medium-scale manufacturers — people producing bolts and nuts, small fabricators, safety gear tailors, and even chemical processing firms. We have space for them to set up their factories and grow their businesses,” he said.

By Our Correspondent

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has said that growing local capacity of the Nigerian workforce remains the sure way of curbing unemployment in the country, as he commends the military for relying on direct labour and local contractors in the execution of it’s projects.

Senator Joel-Onowakpo made the observation and commendation in his address during his familiarisation visit to the Brigade Commander, 63 Brigade, Brigadier General Folu Shonibare in the capital city of Asaba, Delta State.

Senator Joel-Onowakpo who represents Delta South Senatorial District, said the visit was not for an oversight function but to familiarize himself with military formations within his constituency with a view to having better understanding of their operations, challenges and prospect.

The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, reaffirms President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s avowed commitment towards growing local capacity.

According to him, “Let me use this opportunity to briefly talk about the Local content act. As Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, let me commend the military for the use of direct labor and also using local contractors where it becomes necessary.

“Let me reaffirm the commitment of Mr. President in growing local capacity. Growing local capacity is the sure way to creating employment for our teeming graduates and artisans.

“As industry operators, we cannot blame the federal government for the unemployment when we are the ones aiding and abetting those who are determined to bypass the law.

“We all have a share responsibility. We have to actively be seen to support this Government initiative to create massive employment for our people. Never again, will jobs met for our people outsourced to expatriates.”

Senator Joel-Onowakpo assured Nigerians that the Senate would ensure that Nigerian contractor will get what was due them, and called for continued support of the President Tinubu’s administration.

SOURCE: THE MANDATE

The Senate Committee on Local Content yesterday said it would partner the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to actualise the implementation of its functions.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Thomas Joel-Onowakpo (Delta South), stated this at the inaugural meeting of the committee.

The panel was formerly chaired by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) before she was moved to the Committee on the Diaspora and Non-governmental organisations.

Joel-Onowakpo said NCDMB would serve a veritable platform for the Committee to achieve its aims which are stated in order 96 of the Senate Standing rules.

He said, “The mandate of this committee as stipulated in order 96 of the Senate standing orders 2023 as amended is clear and unambiguous.

“It is to ensure that Nigerians benefit maximally from the country’s natural resources. Order 96: Specifically, the jurisdiction of the Committee shall include: Nigerian Content Development; Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Matters relating to local capacity development, and Transfer of technology in oil and gas industries.

“It shall also include Matters of local content and transfer of technology in other mature industries such as construction, power, railway, ICT etc; Issues relating to the patronage of local manpower; Receiving annual performance report of the Nigerian Local Content; and Annual budget estimates.

“The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) plays a vital role in achieving these aims.

“Therefore, collaboration between this committee and NCDMB is essential as we will work closely with NCDMB to ensure that the provisions of the NOGICD Act are implemented effectively.

“The Committee will not only provide oversight, but it will also support the Board in its efforts to develop and implement policies that promote Local content development.

“In addition to our collaboration with the Board, we will engage with other stakeholders including operators, service providers and local businesses.

“The committee will create an enabling environment that fosters growth of local businesses and promote job creation.”

In hitting the ground running, the committee, resolved to embark on an oversight visit to NCDMB’s head office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from Wednesday to Friday next week.

Prominent leader of the APC in Delta State and Former Commissioner of Finance, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba has congratulated Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas on his appointment as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.

In a press statement released today, Olorogun Okumagba said, “I extend my warm congratulations to my friend, brother and senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, on his appointment as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content. It is a pride to us in the Delta South Senatorial District and an appointment well deserved. Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has distinguished himself since his election to the Senate, and displayed the same qualities of fair mindedness, diligence and capacity for which I have always known him. I am therefore not surprised that he was appointed to this very important position, where he will deploy these qualities to bear on the work of the committee and the agencies under its oversight.”

Noting that the National Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) has continued to deliver on its promise, Olorogun Okumagba said the appointment of Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas to head the Senate Committee will further the work of the agency to drive increased local content in the oil and gas industry in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. In his words, “I have no doubt in my mind that Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas will deploy his experience and capacity to lead the committee and work with the NCDMB to deliver on its expected outcomes for the benefit of Nigerians and the nation’s economy.”

Okumagba extended his appreciation to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senate leadership for finding it worthy to appoint Senator Joel-Onowakpo whom he described as “very focused” to lead the committee.