… Laments low patronage by IOCs
By: Felix Ikpotor
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board ( NCDMB) has been commended for its role in boosting the capacity indigenous firms to play key roles in the country’s oil and gas sector.
Mr Aniekan Udom, the Nigerian Content Coordinator for PE Energy Limited-an indigenous firm specializing in flow measurement and process equipments manufacturing, gave the remark while conducting journalists alongside officials of NCDMB round it’s facility in Port Harcourt.
He said 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.
Udom commended the Board for the support to indigenous firms over the years, stressing that the its openness to indigenous companies have 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, ” Udom said.
He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic where 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.
However, he called on the Board to do more in the area of supporting in-country manufacturing.
Also, Vice President of PE Energy Limited, Mr Chukwuemeka Igilar, lamented low patronage from international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the country. He said IOCs preffer to go abroad to get services that can be provided by local companies.
He said the company boasts of the best facilities in handling instrumentation and flow measurement systems in the country.
”We are not having patronage from the operators. From the companies that are operating here. We have a lot of companies that are producing both in Warri and Bayelsa.
”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 have invested hugely to the development of such a facility as this, so patronage is what we are clamouring for. So it’s our prayers that the IOCs, the NOCs look at what we have done as a local company with such investment and patronise us,” he said.
Igilar also called on NCDMB to help drive advocacy in that direction.
”Some years ago, there was a drive by NCDMB to stabilise this things. There was a committee set up and they went through many local companies to see what they have invested, but until today that report is not out. So it’s another prayer to the NCDMB that the board should also come back to look at all those reports, ” he appealed.
In his remarks, Mr Teddy Bai, Supervisor, Government Relations, NCDMB, who led the delegation explained that the visit was part of efforts by the Board to build capacity of the media in reporting activities and impacts of the Board on local content in the country.
”What we are doing here is an annual ritual from NCDMB. Every year we gather the media and we have a session with them. But this time we want to have them see how NCDMB is impacting local capacity in the country. So our mission here is for them to also help us blow our horns .
”Before 2010, in a company like this you won’t see blacks in sensitive positions, but thank God, this is one of the achievements of local content in the personalities you are seeing here, ” he added.
