NCDMB Strengthen the Capacity of Indigenous Companies

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Content Development and Mo-nitoring Board (NCDMB) has continued to strengthen the capacity of indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector in the country.

In ensuring the indigenous companies adhere to world standards in operations, while embracing the local content practices, the NCDMB officials visited some of the firms in Rivers State, alongside various media representatives from Rivers and Bayelsa States.

During a tour at PE Energy Limited facility in Port Harcourt, the General Manager, Corporate Communications of NCDMB, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, explained that the visit was part of efforts by the Board to build the capacity of the media in reporting activities and impacts of the Board on local content in the country.

Represented by Mr. Teddy Bai, supervisor, Government Relations, NCDMB, Ezeobi stated that the Board would continue to support local competitions, but would not compromise competence.

“Before 2010, in a company like this (PE Energy Limited), you won’t see blacks in sensitive positions, but thank God, this is one of the achievements of the local content in the personalities you are seeing here,” he added.

He stated, “At NCDMB, we encourage local content capacity building and local competition. We don’t play down on competence. As you have heard, what we have here is world-class regardless of the location, and that’s what local NCDMB also stands for. We also pursue excellence.”

During the tour at Bunorr Integrated Energy Limited in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area in Rivers State, Ezeobi commended the firm for not promoting pollution in the process of their production of engine oil.

Let me also say that pollution is not what our brothers do alone in the creek; those of us who have four to five cars, we service our cars every month, and we waste that used oil, we are also polluting our environment. Also, that used oil can generate money for us,” Ezeobi added.

Mr. Aniekan Udom, the Nigerian Content coordinator for PE Energy Limited, explained that the company specialises in flow measurement and process equipment manufacturing.

Udom noted that the Board, through its various policies and programmes, has made it possible for training and capacity boosting of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector.

He commended the Board for the support to indigenous firms over the years, stressing that its openness to indigenous companies has been impactful in developing local capacities.

“The existence of NCDMB alone is enough support. Today, as you are in this facility, you did not see a foreigner operating any of our machines, and by that, I mean NCDMB has a policy that mandates technology transfer. So, that alone has ensured that PE Energy Limited’s business is sustained,” he stated.

He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when foreigners were not allowed into the country, the company’s activities were not affected because local capacity had been built through the guidance of NCDMB.

Also, the Vice President of PE Energy, Mr. Chukwuemeka Igilar, lamented low patronage from international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the country.

He said IOCs prefer to go abroad to get services that can be provided by local companies, saying that the company has the best facilities in handling instrumentation and flow measurement systems in the country.

“We are not having patronage from the operators of the companies that are operating here. We have a lot of companies that are producing both in Warri and Bayelsa State.

“We need this place to be busy. If you go round this country, I can beat my chest to say PE Energy is one of the companies that has invested hugely in the development of such a facility as this, so patronage is what we are clamouring for,” he said.