NCDMB, Navy to partner on capacity development

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigerian Navy have agreed to deepen their collaboration in the oil and gas industry, especially with regards to developing and utilising capacity.

Ernest Nwapa, the executive secretary, NCDMB, and Akinjola Johns on, a rear admiral and the commandant of the Nigerian Naval Engineering College, made the commitment recently at a meeting at the Board Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

In his comments, the Executive Secretary said the Board was working to identify, develop and maximise the utilisation of facilities across the country for industry work and training programs and expressed the willingness of the Board to work with the Navy in this regard.

According to him, the Board’s efforts are in compliance with the directive of Dieziani Alison-Madueke, the minister of Petroleum and chairman of the Board’s Governing Council, to the Board on capacity development.

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He remarked that the Navy Dockyard in Lagos is already being used for heavy fabrication by some service companies, noting that many countries in the world had integrated their armed forces in the advancement of national technology and NCDMB will consolidate on the existing relationship between the military and industry.

Recalling that the Board visited the Navy Engineering College, Sapele in 2011, Nwapa remarked that the institution’s machine shop has some capacity the oil and gas industry can use.

He added that the machine shop will be tested for space and facilities and considered for the pilot scheme of the proposed Training Centre of Excellence the Board is developing in collaboration with Petrofac-an international training agency-and the Oil and Gas Training Association of Nigeria (OGTAN).

He advised the Navy High Command to further invest in the development of the college so that it can be upgraded to an international awarding institution and meet the standards set by Petrofac and OGTAN.

“Our visit to the various training facilities to be used for the Center of Excellence will commence shortly. I encourage you to improve the facility to meet the required standard,” he said.