Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Content policy has saved the country $2 billion from the ongoing Train 7 of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project by patronising local firms.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote, said this on Friday shortly after receiving the award of African Local Content Icon in Yenagoa.
Wabote, who dismissed the insinuation that the Nigerian Content Policy was costly as a ploy by foreign interests, who do not wish the country to develop, described the position as blackmail, adding that experience has shown that the policy was more cost effective for oil firms.
He said: “The Nigerian Content Policy saves cost, from the projects that the NCDMB have supervised, it is clear that it is better for the International Operating Companies in Nigeria, but foreign interests at global levels erroneously say that local content is expensive.
“Before the move to increase the participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector, the participation was at about three per cent and previous administrations relied mostly on taxes and revenue and lost sight of the opportunities for Nigerians to get involved in the sector.
“From the oil sector where I am coming from, it is five times more expensive to pay an expatriate than a Nigerian, so how can they say that local content is more expensive?
“On the Train 7 project if you look at the cost provided by foreign companies, you have a wide gap of about $ 2 billion from the quotations of the lowest submitted by foreign firms and the highest from Nigerian companies, so local content is better as we ensure that quality is not compromised.
“From 2010 till now, we have come a long way, for instance, NLNG had 90 per cent of the workforce as expatriates, but today 90 per cent of the workers are Nigerians and today you have Nigerians occupying top positions in foreign oil firms.
“I am thankful to President Muhamadu Buhari who gave me the opportunity to practice local content in the public sector by appointing me in 2016 and reappointing me in 2020.”
On the African Local Content Icon Award bestowed on him, Wabote said that it came to him as a ‘pleasant surprise’ adding that the ideals of the African Leadership Magazine justified his decision to accept the award.
The Managing Editor of African Leadership Magazine, Mr Kingsley Okeke, said the process leading to the selection was transparent and independently conducted with nominations across the African continent.
“We found in the accomplishment and achievements the Executive Secretary of the NCDM, a worthy character we must encourage and export to the rest of Africa.
“Our focus at the magazine is to spotlight the positive developments in the African continent and change the narrative and stereotype by western media,” he said.
The African Local Content Icon Award was presented by Mrs Laura Hall, President-Elect of the National Black Caucus of United States Congressmen at the headquarters of the NCDMB in Yenagoa.
Hall said that the blacks in the United States who the Black Caucus represent also has a similar challenge with building local capacity to compete with their white counterparts in executing contracts in the United States.
She said the caucus would collaborate and share ideas with the NCDMB on ways to increase the capacities of blacks in the United States.
The Chairman of the NCDMB branch of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, Mr Bright Amatoru applauded the leadership style of Wabote which has ensured industrial harmony at the work.
A female employee at the NCDMB represented by Mrs Kadejat Jakeme noted that Wabote has made the oil sector gender sensitive with the $400 million funds for female entrepreneurs in the oil and gas sector.