Niger Delta

Local Content: Five Firms Get OEM Certification

Published

14 years ago

July 2, 2012

A major milestone in the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Law 2010 was achieved last Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital when five multinational companies were granted the first-ever permission to manufacture in-country, original equipment for the oil and gas industry.

The five companies are Endress-Hausser, ABB, Siemens, New Way, and Bonney Forge; all world-class original equipment manufacturers (OEM), who have indicated readiness to roll out by 2014, critical equipment hitherto imported into the country for use by the oil and gas industry players.

Signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to herald the commencement of the process designed to domicile the manufacturing facilities of the companies in Nigeria, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Ernest Nwapa, said the quantum leap would fast track the availability, accessibility and affordability of critical equipment required in the industry, create employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians and boost wealth creation across the value chain.

Nwapa said that the initiative, facilitated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), would avail operators in the industry opportunity to procure original equipment hitherto imported into the country, directly from the manufacturers within Nigeria, thereby saving huge foreign exchange, procurement time, among others.

He said that with the building of original equipment manufacturing plants in Nigeria, the companies’ would have strong manufacturing footprint in-country, thus enhancing the prospects of achieving 70 per cent local content in the industry in line with the law.

Nwapa noted that when completed in 2014, the plants would manufacture equipment for both local consumption and export, and commended participating companies for blazing the trail in local content development, promising to recommend them to the minister of petroleum for special windows to enjoy prescribed privileges in the industry.

Speaking, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, Hon Asita Honourable, expressed the conviction that Shell was actually leading the way in local content development in the industry, and stressed the determination of the National Assembly to provide the enabling climate for the development of local content that would deepen Nigerians’ participation in the industry.

He said that the National Assembly was impressed with the level of compliance with the Nigerian Content Law 2010 by some of the major companies, and stated that members were ready, more than ever before, to strengthen the legislative framework to make greater number of Nigerians benefit from the industry.

In his remarks, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, SPDC, Mr Igo Weli, said the company was delighted to be pioneering the certification of original equipment manufacturers to establish plants in-country, and added that with the development, more Nigerians would be gainfully employed, huge foreign exchange saved for re-investment into other areas of need while facilitating improved revenue generation and wealth creation.

Weli, who represented the Managing Director, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, said that the strategy was in keeping with the company’s desire to deepen its impact on the people within its areas of operation, and promised to encourage more indigenous oil and gas companies to partner more internationally-recognised genuine equipment manufacturers to invest in Nigeria.

President, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engr Emeka Ene, praised Shell for the initiative to facilitate the partnership between indigenous and foreign oil and gas equipment manufacturing companies, and charged other multinational firms to emulate the policy.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.