NCDMB to expand operations into mining, telecom sectors

The Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has hinted at expanding the board operations into the mining and telecommunications sectors.

Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the executive secretary of the NCDMB, disclosed this at the ongoing NOG Energy Week in Abuja on Monday.

According to Ogbe, several policy instruments introduced by President Tinubu-led administration can boost these sectors and the nation’s economy. Hence a need to ensure that value is added to materials in the country.

According to Ogbe, the board has identified five focal areas for implementing the presidential directive. These focal areas include promoting the utilisation/growth of in-country capacities, enhancing the cost competitiveness of oil and gas projects, and entities lacking the essential capacity to perform from the Nigerian content plan.

“The third focus area is the non-inclusion of intermediary entities lacking the essential capacity to perform from the Nigerian content plan (NCP).

“This focus area will use the tender opportunity’s pre-qualification and technical evaluation phases to eliminate entities that lack the essential capacity to perform.

“The fourth focus area is the approval of the Nigerian content plan, which consists of contractors that meet the legal definition of Nigerian companies and demonstrate capacity to execute projects within Nigeria. In this case, the board will only acknowledge the necessity of international players’ participation when the necessary Nigerian content level is unavailable locally or insufficient.

“The board will accomplish this to guarantee Nigerian content’s continuous and quantifiable expansion,” he said.

The last focus area, he said, entails entities acting solely as intermediaries, with no demonstrable capacity to execute the project or activity, shall not be approved.

According to him, the board is steadfast in its dedication to guarantee that any services provided will generate value in the country, adding that efforts were ongoing to evaluate current policies and guidelines to encourage the development of indigenous capabilities and guarantee that these policies and guidelines are not misused, misapplied, or misinterpreted.

“The presidential directive and our modalities are in line with the objectives of our 10-year strategic roadmap, as they will significantly contribute to the deepening of Nigerian content, which will ultimately help us achieve our overarching aim of increasing the level of Nigerian content to 70 percent by 2027.

“I see a great national and a great economy coming back with the measures being put in place by President Tinubu,” he said.

Speaking during a panel discussion focused on Nigerian content as a business enabler, Kelechi Ofoegubu, the executive commissioner, corporate service & administration at the NCDMB, said the Nigerian content should be about value creation and retention for the betterment of citizens.