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Oil producing States to benefit from local content policy

By Ottoabasi Abasiekong on January 17, 2013

Petroleum Minister, Diezani Madueke

In its effort to right the wrongs of the past relating to the degradation of Oil Producing Communities in the Country since 1958, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum alongside the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation have redesigned the Local Content policy to improve the living condition of people in such region.

It will be recalled that Former Petroleum Minister Dr Rilwanu Lukman who was one of the architects of Local Content Policy, said several years back, the Government had identified with the challenges of the area, and was determined under the policy to focus resources on developing and transforming the region.

The Local Content Act developed in the year 2010 by the Oil and Gas Industry, has also created a platform for Indigenous Oil Firms in the Country to spring up and boost their potentials in the Energy Industry.

Companies like Oando, Seplat and Nestoil have shown that they can become strategic players in the Country, so far with their impressive strides in the exploration and production aspects of the Industry.

The Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB), set up by the Petroleum Ministry and the Act of the Local Content has also been fashioned this year by the Minister Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke, to pay more attention on Infrastructural development and empowerment of the populace in the Oil producing States.

Already a Nigerian Oil and Gas project initiative has been adopted to equip and train about 5000 Engineers, Geologists, Welders and Technicians in order to improve on the database of skilled workers in the Country .

In an amazing report, it was also revealed that the Nigerian Content programmes and activities has generated over 30,000 direct jobs and will surpass 300,000 in the next four years, and will be seen tackling the issue of unemployment in the Nation, especially in Oil Producing Areas.

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