NCDMB, host communities parley on security of projects, jobs

Lagos -- The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has in Yenagoa held the maiden interactive session with representatives of host communities of its major projects in the state and charged them to protect and support the projects in their localities to ensure their timely completion and creation of job opportunities from their operations.

The interactive session was convened to create a direct channel of communication between the Board and the host communities, to explain the economic opportunities expected from the projects and clarify the Board’s mandate and correct misconceptions that create frictions between the communities and the Board or with contractors on the projects.

In his presentation, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote outlined the various infrastructural schemes and human capital development initiatives being executed by the Board in Bayelsa state, in line with its mandate of developing local capacities and capabilities in the oil and gas industry and monitoring compliance and enforcing provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

He described the Nigerian Content Tower at Swali, Yenagoa and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park at Emeyal 1 in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as two direct projects of the Board that have added significant value to the economy through the number of jobs created, skills transferred and spend retained in the state. He added that the Oil and Gas Park would incubate in-country manufacturing of oil and gas components and create over 2000 jobs when fully operational.

Represented at the event by the Director, Planning, Research & Statistics, Mr. Daziba Patrick Obah, the Executive Secretary clarified that projects like the Rungas Gas composite cylinder manufacturing facility at Polaku, the Azikel modular refinery and Eraskon Lube Oil blending plant, both at Gbarain were being developed by private promoters with equity investments by the Board.

Similarly, the Atlantic Modular Refinery at Okpoama, the methanol production plant at Odioama and Brass Petroleum and Products Terminal, Okpoama were also being constructed in partnership with other institutional and private investors, he added.

He explained that the Board partnered with third party investors with the intention of catalysing those projects, domiciling critical oil and gas investments, and creating job opportunities, after which it would divest its stakes from the investments.

He charged community leaders and youths to promote peace in their domain and protect the projects till their completion, to create the employment opportunities and industrialization they crave for their communities.

In his remarks, the General Manager Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination NCDMB, Dr Ginah O. Ginah hinted that NCDMB had several projects in Bayelsa State because its headquarters is in the state, and Bayelsa has significant oil and gas operations, and crude oil was first found in commercial quantities in one of its communities.