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PETAN, Others Leverage Local Content To Maximise Economic Gains Of AfCFTA
The Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Nicolas Odinuwe, has joined critical stakeholders in the oil and gas sector in Africa to deliberate on how to lay a solid foundation for the design of an African Local Content mechanism to maximise the economic benefits from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in the hydrocarbon value chain.
The pan-African engagement themed, ‘Fostering Local Content in Africa for Africans’, was hosted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in collaboration with the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Odinuwe, speaking on behalf of Nigerian service companies, emphasised the role of legislation needed to create a regulatory mechanism to midwife the process and ensure independent funding that would promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to drive entrepreneurship and capacity building and promote inclusiveness and integration in the region.
He said that while African content was a relatively need concept, regional cooperation was not, and developing a standard local content framework would involve a conscious utilisation of goods and services available within the continent to exploit and produce Africa’s vast and largely untapped oil and gas reserves.
“The time has come for us to look beyond our local arrangements at the bigger picture, to see how we can harness available resources within our continent for our collective development and the key to unlocking this potential is collaboration”, he said.
He, therefore, advised that the regional local content regulatory model incorporate provisions that will ensure that its minders are people of the right skill set who will help direct capital to where there are opportunities as local content does not always develop commensurately with capital flows.
He commended the efforts of the NCDMB through its committed leadership for the successful implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act which has exponentially grown the capacities and capabilities of Nigerian service companies, including that of PETAN and created synergy among stakeholders through constructive engagements and innovative programmes to encourage and incentivise local companies to form joint ventures with foreign companies to ensure technology transfer as well as the development of young minds in the field of Engineering through Science and Technology Innovation challenges and vocational trainings.
He noted that PETAN’s partnership with the NCDMB and other critical stakeholders have ensured that indigenous companies were creating the needed domestic production linkages to ensure that the extractive industry makes significant contributions to accelerate the economic growth and development of Nigeria and now Africa.
While urging an enabling environment to create a private-sector-led regional oil and gas industry, Odinuwe described the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as a key enabler which has helped to widen the path for Africa as the next global energy hub with great investment opportunities.
“Governments across Africa”, he charged, “especially the Sub-Saharan Africa oil and gas producing countries should provide the necessary incentives to attract private-sector investments across the entire value chain of the oil and gas industry. Using oil and gas as its critical resources, Africa speedily promotes its development”.
He added that PETAN, as the foremost leading advocacy group of over 300 indigenous oil and gas service companies with over 30 years experience across the entire value chain of the industry will always be ready to partner relevant national and regional stakeholders to share experiences and expertise as well as nurture, mentor and invest in available opportunities across the region and continent.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, express the commitment of the board to facilitate linkages among all stakeholders in the oil and gas value chain, and thanked participants for their desire to push the envelope for the development of the continent.
Wabote stated that African countries have been fascinated by the remarkable impact and achievements of Nigeria in the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and the development of its hydrocarbon resources which is anchored on the philosophy of in-country value addition.
He said that this has inspired some African countries to undertake a study tour to Nigeria to understand the NCDMB delivery model with some signing similar local content laws or policies based on insights from Nigeria.
He added that the APPO Charter on Bilateral Cooperation among oil producing countries as well as the signing of the AfCFTA were bold steps which has prompted a new era for the galvanisation of the region towards regional cooperation around developing capacities and capabilities to deliver oil and gas services in the continent.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said the government working to create enabling environment for businesses in the sector to thrive, and build wealth for the country.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), Dr, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said that players in the sector were exploring investment opportunities to jump-start a new era in the industry.
It would be recalled that PETAN spearheaded a steering committee at its recently concluded Sub-African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) 2021 following passionate calls for regional collaboration and deepening of local content by stakeholders across Africa.
Discussions focused on evaluation of regulatory models for the governance, funding and monitoring of local content implementation in frontline economies, laying a solid foundation for the design of an African Local Content programme to maximise economic benefits from implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in hydrocarbon value chain and data sharing on capacities that exist around skills, infrastructure, facilities, assets and funding for exploration, field development and production activities in Africa.
Representatives from the African Union (AU), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) attended the event.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.