Representative of the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidel Okhiria (right), speaking to newsmen during the off-loading of newly acquired air-conditioned long distance coaches and diesel multiple units at the Apapa Port Complex, last Friday. Left is Assistant Director, Public Relations Office, NRC, Mr David Ndakotsu.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has appealed to the media to educate the oil producing communities in the country, on the provisions of the Local Content Law.
The Zonal Coordinator, NCDMB, Akwa Ibom/Cross River Zonal Operations, Mr. Uduak Obot, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Eket yesterday.
He said that the provisions of the Local Content Law were for the good of the people and should be communicated to all the communities.
“The media should take the gospel of Local Content Law to the people so that they will participate more in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“We are saying that the media should enlighten the people in the rural areas especially those in the oil bearing communities for them to benefit from the oil and gas businesses,” he said.
Obot said that the Local Content Law was an opportunity for Nigerians because it guaranteed the rights of the people to participate in the industry.
“We need to understand what the law says about  the oil bearing communities; we need to know what the law says about local contractors.
“It is important to understand what it says about other operators in the industry for us to be able to leverage on these provisions,” he said.
According to him, Akwa Ibom and Cross River people were not involved in the oil and gas businesses, but were more into politics.
“Oil bearing communities in other states are benefiting and living their lives on oil and gas businesses.
“We have so much in the industry that the value chain provides, so we are talking to our people in Akwa Ibom and Cross River to leverage on the law accordingly,” he added.
The zonal coordinator appealed to youths in the oil producing communities to shun vandalism of oil installations and restiveness, and always channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters.