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Content Board Seeks Stakeholders Commitment To Compliance

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15 years ago

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) wants stakeholders’ commitment to compliance even as it says local content implementation will bring back Nigerian jobs.

A statement by the Public Affairs Office of the Board in Abuja on Thursday quoted the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Ernest Nwapa, as making the remarks during his visit to some oil companies.

It said that Nwapa’s visit to Chevron Nigeria Ltd. and ExxonMobil was part of his week-long sensitisation programme to major oil and gas industry stakeholders in Lagos.

Nwapa was quoted as saying that the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGIC) Act was geared toward the establishment of facilities in Nigeria.

It said the implementation of the Act was also aimed at ensuring that the local facilities were patronised so as to bring Nigerian jobs back home.

According to him, the emphasis of the Federal Government with the implementation of the Act is not aimed at only retaining the bulk of the annual oil and gas industry expenditure in the country.

But its ultimate aim was to create employment for millions of Nigerians from the oil and gas industry operations.

Nwapa was quoted as noting that most countries in the world were currently working toward bringing back jobs for their nationals in the wake of the global economic crisis.

The executive secretary was also quoted as saying that this agenda of the Federal Government should be supported by all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

He conceded that keeping the cost of production reasonable and meeting work schedules were critical to national revenue.

Nwapa, however, stressed that given Nigeria’s population of 150 million, the oil and gas industry, which is the main stay of the economy, needed to pay special attention to job creation.

The executive secretary explained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Joint Venture Partners could not employ more than 25,000 persons.

He said that several thousands of Nigerians would be employed if the companies put jobs in the yards of local service companies and encouraged their traditional service providers to build facilities in Nigeria to execute their contracts locally.

Nwapa expressed regret that the preference for importation of almost all the goods and services used in the industry was steadily eliminating opportunities to develop human capacity and infrastructure.

The executive secretary said the consequence of the practice was the impoverishment of our people and stultifying national economic growth.

Illustrating, he said: “Each major offshore production facility contract award to be fabricated in the traditional Asian fabrication yard translates into the export of more than one billion dollar capital from the Nigerian economy.

“Five thousand Nigerian jobs are lost in the two-year engineering and fabrication period and the opportunity to train several thousands other Nigerians within same time frame.

“Such decisions also result in lost opportunity to upgrade existing yards and build new ones, cripple opportunity to attract investments to the facilities and lost opportunities to grow partnerships between local and foreign companies.”

Nwapa stressed that such practice must stop, adding that compliance with the provisions of the Act called for a drastic change in the ways the industry were being run for decades to achieve government’s aspirations.

Nwapa also asked the international oil companies to provide the board with the concrete strategies they had adopted to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.

The executive secretary also asked the oil companies to strive to meet the targets set by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke for the industry.

He pointed out that the board was set to invoke the non compliance sanctions prescribed in the Act for defaulting companies.

Nwapa charged the companies to come up with individual strategies of putting work in the yards of Nigerian service companies.

He also asked them to come up with plans to utilise indigenously owned marine vessels and comply with the expatriate quota provisions of the Act.

Nwapa maintained that foreign and local investors would not be encouraged to establish facilities in Nigeria to bridge capacity gaps until the board was convinced that existing facilities were being patronised.

He pledged the board’s unwavering determination to enforce compliance with the Act.

Nwapa added that “we need to demonstrate to bidders and service providers that when you do not comply with the provisions of the Act, you lose out from tenders.”

He also canvassed for a change of the mindset by Nigerians holding executive positions in the oil companies to balance loyalty to employer with a responsibility to align with national objectives when advising and taking key decisions.

In his comments, the Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria, Mr Andrew Fawthrop, commended NCDMB for initiating the engagement, which he said, would build consensus on the implementation of the Act.

He said that Chevron was committed to complying with the Act, but pointed at difficulties arising from the absence of a transition period and insufficient capacity in certain areas.

Illustrating the dilemma in balancing government aspirations, he said: “If you are seeing resistance, it is because we have goals to meet on oil production and gas delivery among other things and failure attracts some penalties.”

In his comments, the Managing Director of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Mr Mark Ward, assured NCDMB that the company would be proactive in complying with the Act.

According to him, you are going to see a different approach from ExxonMobil.

“We will not wait until we get everything right because doing nothing frustrates implementation of the Act,” Ward said.

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Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.06%

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7 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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Three States Record Lowest rates Published 16 Mar 2026 By  Dave Ibemere 3 min read The NBS has revealed that inflation rates dropped again in February 2026 The bureau noted that both headline and food inflation eased on a year-on-year basis Inflation was lowest in Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi, while the highest was recorded in Kogi.
 Nigerian economy, the stock market, and broader market trends. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s inflation rate slowed further in February 2026. According to the bureau in its latest CPI report, the headline inflation dropped slightly to 15.06% from 15.10% in January 2026. Nigeria’s inflation eases to 15%, offering relief to households. It was 11.21 percentage points lower than the 26.27% recorded in February 2025. From breaking news to viral moments.  On a month-on-month basis, inflation stood at 2.01% in February, up from -2.88% in January, showing that prices rose at a faster pace than the previous month. Nigerian stock market records weekly gain as turnover hits N164.8billion Urban vs Rural Inflation NBS noted that urban inflation stood at 15.53% year-on-year, down from 28.49% in February 2025, while rural inflation was 13.93%, compared with 22.73% in the same period last year. Every month, urban inflation rose to 2.55% in February from 2.72% in January, while rural inflation eased to 0.71% from -3.29%. Food Inflation Food inflation dropped to 12.12% year-on-year in February, down sharply from 26.98% in February 2025. Monthly, food prices rose by 4.69%, higher than the -6.02% recorded in January. The NBS attributed the moderation to slower price increases in staples such as beans, cassava tuber, yam flour, crayfish, millet flour, cowpeas, and okazi leaf. The twelve-month average for food inflation was 19.08%, compared with 37.40% in February 2025. States breakdown for All Items The states with the highest all-items inflation rates were: Kogi (23.57%) Benue (22.85%) Anambra (22.09%) The lowest rates were recorded in: READ ALSO Naira appreciates by N27 against US dollar as external reserves cross $50bn Katsina (7.78%) Imo (11.66%) Ebonyi (11.71%) On a month-on-month basis, the highest increases were in Enugu (5.92%), Ogun (4.39%), and Anambra (4.11%), while declines were seen in Zamfara (-2.14%), Bauchi (-1.23%), and Katsina (-1.06%). Food staples contribute less to inflation as prices moderate in February. Photo: Bloomberg Source: Getty Images State Breakdown for Food Inflation Food inflation was highest in: Kogi (26.91%) Adamawa (23.12%) Benue (21.89%) The lowest food inflation rates were seen in: Katsina (5.09%) Bauchi (7.09%) Imo (7.65%) Month-on-Month Food Inflation The states with the highest month-on-month increases in food inflation were: Bayelsa (8.81%) Ebonyi (8.51%) Edo (7.72%) The states that recorded declines were: Katsina (-0.70%) Nasarawa (0.17%) Kano (1.39%) Food price changes across markets in Nigeria Earlier, The  Tide source reported that due to Ramadan, staple food prices across the country are recording sharp increases as Muslims begin the Ramadan fasting season Ramadan is not only a period of abstinence from food and drink, but also a time for ‘reflection, discipline and heightened devotion’ Several traders in Abuja, Taraba, and Kaduna states are taking advantage and have hiked price. The NBS has revealed that inflation rates dropped again in February 2026 The bureau noted that both headline and food inflation eased on a year-on-year basis Inflation was lowest in Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi, while the highest was recorded in Kogi.
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NDCCTMA, NDDC MDS Challenge Niger Delta Indigenes On Investment In The Region 

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7 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture  (NDCCTMA), and the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Domestic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The bodies made the call at a Business Round Table organized by NDDCTMA, in Port Harcourt.
Chairman of NDDCTMA, Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can  do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here.”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase”, he stated.
Ogan noted that the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where saying “that is why we are gathered here in this room”.
Also speaking, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment  as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city, we have gone to Lagos,we have moved  our families to Abuja and Lagos. If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
By; John Bibor
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Cash Handouts Unproductive For Sustainable Agricultural Development – Engineer Kii

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7 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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Rivers State by its natural disposition is gifted with strategic economic advantage, particularly in  agricultural potentials and fortunes. This informs successive governments’ interest in  developing the agricultural sector, such as the School to Land Program, the Shongai Project, among several others.
The objective is to engender and leverage the sector  beyond mere subsistence practices into a full thriving economy, with the engagement and involvement of the youthful and productive population.
The Farm to Future Agro Based Training for Rivers youths by the present administration is notably one of the most pragmatic efforts of the Rivers State Government to engage the prospective creative capital of both the natural and human resources in the agricultural sector for sustainable development.
The concept, premised on the imperative of maximizing the huge agrarian prowess of the state, targets creation of sustainable livelihood for the teeming youth of the state. The project is also intended to achieve the chore needs of food sufficiency and job creation in the state.
This implies a significant deviation from the acculturised norm of expectations of financial benefits as the outcome of government programs and policies.
The tenets of the program are expressly difined in concept and practice as shown in the phases of its execution.
However, some beneficiaries of the project recently staged a protest, allegdging unpaid largesse, diversion of funds and perceived slighting by the Rivers State Ministry of agriculture. The said protest has stirred up concerns among stakeholders about how people view  government policies.
Many see the protest  as an attempt to create tension around the program and sabotage its original objectives.
Stakeholders and commentators are of the view that the Rivers State is in dire need of development in every critical sector, as such the  Ministry of Agriculture and its partners should be given the benefit of the doubt to implement the project to its logical conclusion without being hauled with accusations.
The former Commissioner for Agriculture, Engineer Victor Kii who was at the fore of driving the program has in a press statement debunked the allegations and sued for calm, restraint and understanding. Engineer Kii assured the participants that the empowerment phase will be implemented as soon as administrative normalcy is restored.
He commended the participants for their commitment and discipline during the training and urged them to uphold the norms of the program rather than misrepresenting its intentions.
Some pundits who commented on the recent development decried the fact that many people  still hold on to the notion that  incentives billed to create sustainable impact through skills based programs, should be given out as  largess, without adroit supervision of its utility function. This practice  has however created a culture of economic doldrum, dependency and servitude in the past.
Thus the idea of seen the Rivers Farm to Future project  as a mere quixotic experiment for cash benefits  without achieving set goals is counter productive. Such opportunistic thinking have stunted government efforts  over the years in achieving long term objectives of development.
As disclosed by the former commissioner for Agriculture in his detailed explanation, the Farm to Future project was strategically designed to address this culpable deficit in institutional planning and consolidation of results.
The former commissioner gave an  explicit description of the nexus of operation of the program.
As revealed by him;  ” The program is a strategic intervention to equip young people in Rivers with practical skills and to nurture a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. 500 beneficiaries received intensive agri business training in the first phase.”
 He pointed out that the program was conceived and designed in line with global best practices which de emphasizes indiscriminate cash handouts for beneficiaries. Rather it promotes practical engagements in agricultural activities and business initiatives.
At the end of the training in February, beneficiaries were encouraged either individually or in cooperative clusters to identify value chain for establishment of viable businesses.
They were also asked to produce structured business proposals for perusal and review by the ministry of agriculture and appointed consultants, after which successful proposals would be forwarded to the Bank of Agriculture with Rivers State Government providing guarantees.
The strategies for implementation include field inspections and evaluation for beneficiaries who had already commenced practical activities in identified locations.
The approach was to discourage the commonplace ideology of diverting funds meant for specific projects for unrelated purposes, thereby undermining the conscious exploration of creative potentials into long term benefits.
The process was however temporary interrupted by the dissolution of the Rivers State Executive Council and the ongoing renovation of the Rivers State Secretariat complex but the profound optimism and positive expectations that are the hallmark of the project remains sacrosanct.
Engineer Kii assures.
By: Beemene Taneh
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