Tag: NCDMB

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Starzs Gas Limited have identified Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a catalyst to boost industrialisation and massive growth to the nation’s economy.

This is coming after the groundbreaking ceremony for a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mother station got underway in Iwhreken, Ughelli South, Delta State.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, commended Starzs Investments Company Limited, parent company of Starzs Gas, for pushing industry boundaries with its expansion into the gas subsector.

Represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, the Executive Secretary described Starzs Gas Limited as a veritable vehicle “to drive industrialisation and expand Nigeria’s economy”, adding the company’s offerings cut across natural gas compression, CNG fueling and refueling stations, conversion workshops and training centres, motorised CNG tube skids for sale and distribution, as well as engineering, construction and procurement solutions.

The Executive Secretary was particularly elated that the multimillion-dollar Integrated CNG Project, which was slated for commissioning in the first quarter of 2026, had come at a time that the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas programme is going full steam, with the NCDMB itself acting as an enabler to numerous gas development and utilisation projects across the country.

On the Board’s performance in implementation of its core mandate, the Executive Secretary recalled that local content had hit 56 per cent in the last quarter of 2023, up from five per cent in 2010, when the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act came into force, noting that more and more Nigerian assets and resources are being utilised in oil and gas operations in the country.

Ogbe urged the host community, Iwhrekan, to cooperate with Starzs Gas Limited so as to enjoy maximum benefits and also facilitate unhampered production activities at the company. He said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the House of Representatives member for Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu Federal Constituency, Hon. Francis Waive, who was present at the ceremony, which could facilitate NCDMB’s sustainability programme for protection and security of the company’s facilities.

Read Also: NCDMB, Starzs gas optimistic about Nigeria’s gas sector growth 

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starzs Investments Company Limited, Greg Ogbeifun, said the establishment of Starzs Gas Limited signalled “a generational shift,” as the Starzs Group, a conglomerate with such leading companies as Starzs Marine and Engineering Services Limited, Starzs Shipyard Limited, and Starzs Investments Company Limited, had for decades focused largely on the maritime industry.

He said Starzs Gas Limited was the culmination of unrelenting pressure by his daughter, Miss Iroghama Ogbeifun, that the global clamour for elimination of gas flaring and reduced carbon footprint, which form the basis of President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives on gas utilisation, be considered as a challenge to entrepreneurship.

According to him, he yielded and provided the necessary material support for the new company, whose focus is on gas for industrial applications, gas-to-power, and gas as auto fuel. The company is also engaged in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects within the gas subsector.

The Starzs Group Chairman announced the immediate promotion of Miss Iroghama Ogbeifun to the position of Vice Chairman of the conglomerate in appreciation of her exceptional capabilities in visioning and implementing the blueprint for the new business organisation and her energy and drive.

Earlier in a welcome address, Miss Ogbeifun, Managing Director of Starzs Gas, expressed gratitude to guests among whom were top executives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiaries, Chief Executive Officer, ND Western, Engr. Olanrewaju Kalejaiye, represented by the company’s Commercial Manager, Engr. Sunday Okunbor, Rt. Rev. Feb Idahosa, Hon. Waive, of the House of Representatives, the Council of Chiefs of the community, and President of the Nigerian Gas Association, Engr. Aka Nwokedi.

She said the event of Thursday was “Not just groundbreaking…but setting the stage for cleaner energy and development for the host community,” pointing out that the NNPCL Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) has 15 per cent equity in the project, and that her company would leverage the partnership and expertise of the NNPCL.

 “We are embarking on a journey that will drive industrial development,” Miss Ogbeifun said, adding that the Integrated Gas Project would significantly facilitate the attainment of objectives in Federal Government’s Decade of Gas programme.

In a goodwill message, Hon. Francis Waive said the ceremony was a very important for him. “This is my place, my community, my constituency. Let us work with Starzs to achieve success,” he said.

The President, Nigerian Gas Association, Akachukwu Nwokedi, said the project being undertaken would reduce carbon footprint and bring about other economic benefits. He commended the partnership between the NNPCL Gas Marketing Limited and Starzs Gas as well as the focus and tenacity of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, for developments in the subsector.

Managing Director of NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, Justin Ezeala, described the Integrated Gas Project as a timely response to the Federal Government’s charge to the private sector to invest in gas infrastructure to promote resource development and utilisation.

Ezeala, who spoke as representative of the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekpo, and Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, said the Federal Government believes in the vision of Starzs and that it is reassuring that the National Assembly is making the right laws and government is making the right policies.

Starzs Gas Limited is building a CNG Compression Station adjacent to the gigantic NAZ 3 Gas Plant at Utorogu, Delta State. The Compression Station, by design, has an initial capacity of two million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd), which is scalable to five mmscfd within 18 months. It is envisaged to expand from CNG to domestic LNG production.

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Ogbe, an engineer, in company with senior officials of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has visited the facilities at Brightwaters Energy Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The tour to the company’s facilities at Choba, Port Harcourt, and Emohua in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State was a follow up to the NCDMB earlier visit to the company and some pipe coating facilities in May 2024.

The Executive Secretary pledged the Board’s support for local service companies, giving them opportunities in the oil and gas industry and creating jobs in the economy.

The latest visit was to assess Brightwaters Energy’s upgrade of its technical capabilities, which would position them for upcoming industry projects.

Speaking ahead at the visit, Engr. Ogbe conveyed the Board’s determination to ensure that capabilities of local oil and gas service companies are known and adequately utilised by operating companies in the industry to boost local content and provide employment, in line with the economic aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He recalled that Brightwaters had performed well in the execution of projects in the exploration and production segment of the industry over the years with a clientele that included SPDC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, among other major oil and gas operators. He was convinced that the company had the capacity required for key scopes in upcoming industry projects.

He charged operating oil and gas companies to always support qualified service companies, while ensuring that the best quality service is delivered at all times and on schedule.

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In opening remarks at the event, the Community and Corporate Affairs Manager of Brightwaters, Solomon Aluge, confirmed that the firm had been engaging the team from SPDC and was equipped to carry out heavy or light fabrication works. He acknowledged that Brightwaters had carried out many onshore and offshore pipeline engineering and installation works for various clients.

Elaborating on the scope of operations of his company in the oil and gas sector, he pointed out that Brightwaters was “mobilizing for Chevron and Tulcan pipeline works” at the moment.

Earlier in a welcome remark, the Chief Executive Officer of Brightwaters, Scott Gregory, expressed happiness at the presence of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Ogbe, and the representatives of SPDC at the meeting, assuring all that the company has enormous capabilities for services in the oil and gas industry.

He provided technical details of a number of projects executed by the company offshore and onshore in its many years of operation in Nigeria, noting that some of the upcoming field projects were well within the company’s competencies.

Among key facilities visited in the tour were blast furnaces, where the process of smelting was demonstrated with hot compressed air being blasted into a furnace from below, and a multipurpose offshore construction vessel known as Sea Horizon Derrick Lay Barge, with a heavy-lift capacity of 1,320 tons.

Marine construction activities performed by the vessel, according to the company, include “installation of rigid and flexible pipelines, risers and umbilicals (flexible hoses that connect surface equipment to subsea equipment)”.

The General Manager, Local Content Shell, Lanre Olawuyi in his comments conveyed the company’s good impressions with the facilities and capabilities of Brightwaters Energy. He affirmed that the technical teams would review their reports and take decisions how to engage the company in some of their upcoming projects.

He expressed the delight that the company had upgraded its facilities since the last visit in May 2024, and expressed hope that the facility would attract more patronage from the oil industry so it would bounce back to its former glory.

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has lauded the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) for its transformative impact on the oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Association, in Lagos with the theme: ‘Navigating the Next’, he said the association through stakeholder engagements and strident advocacy played a crucial role in the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.

Represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, Ogbe admitted that the association was helpful in ensuring the passage of the NOGICD Act.

“It was therefore not surprising that you got a front row seat in the NCDMB as a statutory Governing Council member, NCDMB is grateful,” he said.  According to Ogbe, PETAN was formed to bring together the Nigerian oil and gas entrepreneurs to create a forum for the exchange of ideas with major operators and policy makers.

“This 30th anniversary, though celebratory, is an opportunity for PETAN and the government to share ideas that will move the industry forward for the benefit of Nigeria. It is against this background that I wish to acknowledge the role PETAN has played, which has transformed Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

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“With a current membership of over 100, serving more than 20 industries, and over $500 million in annual revenue by your members, your strategic importance to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.

 “For over three decades, PETAN has remained a beacon of innovation and unwavering commitment to the growth of indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector. PETAN’s contributions to promoting local content and enhancing capacity building have been truly remarkable. Your tireless efforts have bolstered the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and elevated our country’s standing in the global energy industry,” he said.

Ogbe said the anniversaries were not only a time for celebration, but also a time for deep reflection. “While PETAN has achieved much, the road ahead presents new challenges that require us to continuously evaluate and adapt”.

On how to navigate the next, the Executive Secretary said that PETAN’s leadership would be greatly amplified and its collective impact felt more in the society in the support and mentorship of new and upcoming countries in the oil and gas industry.

Ogbe said: “It’s very important that you mentor new companies that aspire to become PETAN members. While PETAN has done commendable work in creating a platform for indigenous companies to thrive, there is an increasing need to assist emerging companies in navigating the complexities of this highly competitive sector”, this could be achieved by establishing mentorship programs, he added.

He said that PETAN members could mentor new entrants by sharing industry insights and best practices to accelerate their growth. Another way to achieve this is by creating access to funds, he stated. According to Ogbe PETAN as an organisation could create a PETAN Startup Fund consisting majorly of contributions from members.

“As we look to the future, it is evident that the strength and sustainability of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry rests not only on the businesses we build, but also on the people we empower. Our engineers and professionals form the backbone of this sector,” he said.

Ogbe therefore proposed that the envisioned PETAN Startup Fund should be strategically utilised for the training of engineers and other professionals.

According to him, the initiative would send a powerful message that PETAN is deeply involved in investing in an exclusive future for the oil and gas industry.

“As we look to the next 30 years, I challenge PETAN to lead the charge in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive oil and gas sector by fostering greater collaboration and assisting emergence of new companies. PETAN can continue to be a formidable force in Nigeria’s industrial evolution”, he stated.

Pledging the unwavering support for PETAN’s mission, Ogbe said: “Together, we will continue to advance the ideals of local content, drive innovation, and create a more prosperous future for all Nigerians.”

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) aims to achieve 70per cent national penetration by 2027.

Its Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the Board has recognised the integration of host communities into the oil and gas supply chain as a key factor in achieving this goal. He further stated that the Board had implemented appropriate measures to facilitate the integration.

He spoke at a one-day workshop in Port Harcourt with: “The Role of the Media in Maintaining the Tempo of Nigerian Content Implementation,” as theme.

Represented by the General Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, the Executive Secretary urged the media and other stakeholders to use their expertise to critically examine reports on Nigerian Content performance in the oil and gas industry. This, he emphasised, would help highlight the facts behind the significant achievements in in-country value addition for the benefit of the citizens.

The Executive Secretary expressed deep appreciation to the mass media’s ability for informing and educating the public but stated that the Board had opted for forums like workshops to keep practitioners updated on its activities.

 “In 2025, the NCDMB will mark 15 years. Reflecting on our efforts and the impact we’ve made in the oil and gas sector, we’ve grown Nigerian Content from less than five per cent in 2010, when we started, to 56per cent today. This represents significant progress.

“For every N100 spent in the industry by operators and service companies, N56 is now retained within the country through value addition—local assets, goods, expertise, and other resources utilized. Our goal is to achieve 70per cent by 2027”.

“You need to interrogate us further: How did we achieve this? What metrics were used in the computation? This is what will make your reporting truly informative,” he said.

He assured journalists that the Board would remain supportive whenever they sought clarification.

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He reiterated the Board’s commitment to implementing the Back-to-the-Creeks Initiative, which aims to enhance the oil and gas industry’s contributions to local communities by supporting basic education, providing affordable finance to community contractors, and equipping youths with relevant industry skills, among other initiatives to strengthen the local economy.

Highlighting efforts to empower host community contractors, he stated that the Board had increased the Community Contracting Financing Scheme.

The single obligor limit has been raised from N20 million to N100 million, providing local contractors greater access to finance and opportunities to undertake larger contracts within the oil and gas industry.

These initiatives, he emphasised, are designed to reduce or eliminate conflicts and foster a peaceful, harmonious operating environment for oil and gas companies.

He also underscored the role of journalists in sustaining the local content program. According to Ogbe: “We rely on the media to critically examine these policy initiatives and interventions, follow up on their implementation and ensure NCDMB achieves its goals. This, he said, would benefit our communities and support our youth”.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe has reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to deepening engagements with local communities and oil and gas industry players through the various schemes newly introduced. These, he said included the Back-to-the-Creeks Initiative, the Revised Nigerian Content Community Contractors Financing Scheme, Nigerian Content Academy, and the creation of more conducive and befitting zonal offices to enhance service delivery by the Board.

He spoke during the official closing ceremony of the 13th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum, 2024 with the theme “From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Domestication for Economic Development”, in Bayelsa State.

Ogbe expressed the profound gratitude to industry stakeholders, top-ranking vendors and staff of the Board for their contributions to the success of the forum adding their active participation enriched discussions as the Board charted a pathway to the next frontier for Nigerian Content implementation.

According to him, the Back-to-the-Creeks policy is “designed to equip youths in our communities with the skills to meet industry demands” through improvement of basic educational facilities and motivation of teachers. In regard to the Contractors Financing Scheme, he explained that the Board has increased the single obligor limit from N20 million to N100 million.

He said what that does “is that it gives more opportunities for local contractors to be able to access higher figures” to enable them to secure and execute meaningful contracts in the oil and gas industry. In that way, the Scheme would serve as a mechanism “to bring the benefits of local content to communities”, he added.

Read Also: NCDMB okays N15b for contractor support

The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, expressed the delight that the Board’s partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI) is working well, that “performance is at optimal level”, and that the new funding scheme would be hugely beneficial to local contractors.

On the Nigerian Content Academy, he said the board had the experience, the capacity in-house, and “the understanding of what it meant to practise Nigerian Content”, having done that for 14 years, believing the industry would take advantage of what the training facility has to offer.

Acknowledging the invaluable input of experts of diverse backgrounds, Engr. Ogbe requested the NCDMB partner, dmg events Limited, “to develop key actionable points” from the PNC Forum “that will guide the industry” as it moves to the next frontier of Nigerian Content implementation.

He assured all industry stakeholders that the Board would continue to collaborate with them to fulfil its mandate as set out in its enabling statute, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), yesterday said it has achieved 54per cent of Nigerian content growth far.

Speaking on ‘Empowering the Future: Unlocking the Opportunities in the Niger Delta Oil and Gas Sector’, the Executive Secretary (ES), Felix Ogbe said the event was organised in partnership with DMG Events. 

He said: “At the NCDMB, we are proud of the impressive growth we have recorded in local content development in the last 14 years. We have undertaken several initiatives that have increased local participation in the oil and gas industry and created opportunities for including young people.

“In 2017, we developed the Nigerian Content 10-year strategic roadmap, with the target to raise Nigerian Content performance from 26per cent at that time to 70per cent in 2027. Today, we have recorded 54per cent Nigerian Content growth as at December 2023.”

The NCDMB organised youths summit as part of its 13th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) 2024 to mentor young persons and introduce them to the opportunities in the sector.

He said it had become a permanent feature in the oil and gas industry’s events calendar, stressing that while the main PNC conference focuses on major issues that confront Nigerian Content implementation in the sector, the youth summit was organised to mentor young persons and introduce them to the opportunities in the industry and the linkage sectors of the economy.

Represented by Mr Olugbenga Shega, Manager, Capacity building, NCDMB, the ES said: “Our mandate is to develop human capabilities and material capacities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and to monitor and enforce compliance with the provisions of the Act. The theme for this year’s Youth Event is ‘Empowering the Future: Unlocking the Opportunities in the Niger Delta Oil and Gas Sector.

“This theme speaks to our determination and on-going efforts to introduce youths from the Niger Delta to the opportunities that abound in the oil and gas industry.

“Just a few weeks ago we partnered with the Nigeria LNG to kick start the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (NC-HCD) Basic Training Programme for a total of 331 young graduates.

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“The trainings cover ICT, Engineering, Welding and Fabrication, Non-destructive Testing (NDT), Lifting and Working at Heights, Quality Management Systems, Marine and Offshore Services, and Facility Management and Maintenance.

“We also organised training for youths with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Waltersmith Petroleum and other organisations.”

Ogbe said as part of the agency’s initiatives in the Niger Delta, they had developed two oil and gas parks at Emeyal 1, in Ogbia Local Government Area and Odukpani, in Cross River State.

He said: “We also invested in a lube oil blending plant being developed by Eraskon Nigeria Ltd and in Azikel Group 12,000 barrels per day modular refinery.

“These lofty activities create thousands of jobs, particularly in oil producing communities and environs. They also reduce youth restiveness, jumpstart local refining and research and development.

Also speaking, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, represented by Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Alfred Kemapado, said the NCDMB had been proactive in engaging youth by integrating human capacity development into each project undertaken by the oil and gas industry.

He encouraged companies to provide training and development opportunities, equipping the youth with necessary skills relevant to the industry.

The governor said various programmes are being developed to create jobs and opportunities for young individuals, with specific emphasis on the establishment of industrial parks.

He said the industrial park in Emeyal 1 is highlighted as a key initiative that, once operational, is anticipated to engage a significant number of youths in various capacities.

Diri reminded youths and businesses operating within the industry that they could access specific facilities and funding opportunities provided by the Bank of Industry, which supports entrepreneurial activities.

He indicated that initiatives outlined point towards a comprehensive approach to youth engagement in the oil and gas industry, stressing that by focusing on skill development, job creation, and access to financial resources, the board was setting the stage for a more sustainable and inclusive economic environment that harnesses the potential of the younger population.

He stated that continued effort and collaboration would be essential to realize the full benefits of these programmes.