NCDMB will expand its operations to include the mining and telecommunications sectors

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has suggested expanding the board’s activities to the mining and telecommunications sectors.

Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, disclosed this during the ongoing NOG Energy Week in Abuja on Monday.

According to Ogbe, several policy instruments introduced by the President Tinubu-led administration have the potential to boost these sectors and the country’s economy. Hence the need to provide added value to materials in the country.

According to Ogbe, the board has identified five key areas for implementing the presidential directive. These key areas include promoting the utilization/growth of domestic potential, enhancing the cost competitiveness of oil and gas projects, and entities lacking the necessary capacity to execute the Nigerian Content Plan.

“The third area of ​​concern is the lack of inclusion of intermediary entities that lack the necessary capacity to operate under the Nigerian Content Plan (NCP).

“In this area of ​​focus, the pre-qualification and technical evaluation phases of the tender offer will be used to eliminate entities that do not have the necessary capacity to operate.

“The fourth area of ​​focus is the approval of the Nigerian Content Plan, which consists of contractors who meet the legal definition of Nigerian companies and have demonstrated the ability to deliver projects in Nigeria. In this case, the board will only consider the participation of international players if the necessary level of Nigerian content is not available locally or is insufficient.

“The board will do this to ensure continuous and measurable expansion of Nigerian content,” he said.

The last area of ​​concern, he added, includes entities acting solely as intermediaries, with no proven capacity to carry out a project or activity, and therefore will not be approved.

According to him, the Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure that all services provided add value to the country, adding that work is ongoing to evaluate current policies and guidelines to encourage the development of indigenous capabilities and ensure that these policies and guidelines are not misused, misused used or misinterpreted.

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

“I see a great country and a great economy coming back thanks to the measures introduced by President Tinubu,” he said.

Speaking during a panel discussion focused on Nigerian content as a business enabler, Kelechi Ofoegubu, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services and Administration, NCDMB, said Nigerian content should be about creating and sustaining value for the benefit of citizens.