NCDMB pledges continuous support to local content development in Africa

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is always ready to support other African countries in developing and implementing local content policies as a strategy to promote indigenous participation and optimize the value of hydrocarbons and mineral resources.

NCDMB Executive Secretary, Ing. Simbi Kesiye Wabote gave the assurance at the Council’s liaison office, Abuja, when he received a delegation from the Ministry of Trade & Mines, Republic of Guinea, who had studied Nigeria’s Local Content Policy.

Wabote recalled that other African countries like Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda among others have benefited from Nigeria’s guidance on local content and the Council will continue to extend the same support to interested Africans who seek assistance. He added that the aim of the Council is to extend local content practices in the content, in line with the Sectoral and Regional Market LinkagePillar of the Nigerian Content 10-year strategic map.

He described the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFA) as a revolutionary agreement that promises broad collaboration among African countries and increases trade among 1.3 billion Africans, helping to create investment and job opportunities. He emphasized the need for African countries to consider the comparative advantages of member countries and take advantage of the capacities that have been developed in other countries, instead of copying the same facilities.

Speaking further, the Executive Secretary advised the Guinean delegation to remain committed to the implementation of the local content policy, describing it as a long journey, which requires strong political will from leaders and the development of tools, processes, communication strategies, and stakeholders. engagement.
He recalled that Nigerians introduced the policy when the level of local content was less than five percent in 2010 and the local supply chain did not have the capacity to carry out critical projects in the country, which led to many opportunities for expatriate personnel and companies.

He disclosed that the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) and its focused implementation in the past 12 years has led to an increase in capacity in the country to 54 percent by the end of 2022.

The leader of the Guinean delegation, the Executive Director of the Bourse for Subcontracting and Partnering in Guinea (BSTP), Mr. Saifoulaye Balde, explained that the team will spend a few days with the NCDMB team to learn about the Council’s implementation model and take ideas. they can implement in the jurisdiction. He noted that Guinea has a booming mining sector, dominated by expatriates, with little local content input. He expressed his country’s desire to increase indigenous participation in the country’s mining sector and increase value addition.
Balde emphasized the history of cooperation between Nigeria and Guinea and praised Nigeria as a point of reference in Local Content in Africa and beyond.

The General Manager, Planning, Research and Development, NCDMB, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu stated that the Guinean team will be implemented through the Council’s core operations and model in research and development, project certification, capacity building and funding. He noted that the point is for the delegation to identify successful programs from the Council that can be transferred and implemented successfully in their jurisdictions.