The Senate Committee on Local Content, under the leadership of Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has pledged firm support for the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in advancing local participation across the oil and gas industry.
During a recent oversight visit to the NCDMB headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the committee reviewed ongoing initiatives, including a site inspection of the nearly completed Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS) in Emeyal I, Ogbia Local Government Area. The industrial park, which is already partially operational, is expected to serve as a hub for local enterprises in the sector.
Senator Thomas emphasized that the Senate’s priority is to ensure Nigerians reap full benefits from the country’s natural resources. He highlighted the importance of policies that promote job creation, skills acquisition, and indigenous enterprise growth—key areas championed by the NCDMB.
“The National Assembly remains deeply committed to enhancing Nigerian involvement in the oil and gas value chain,” he stated. “We stand with the NCDMB in its mission to implement local content policies that will transform the sector.”
Echoing this sentiment, the committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Ede Dafinone, expressed satisfaction with the board’s efforts to increase local manufacturing of oil and gas components. He commended the progress at the Emeyal I park and acknowledged the board’s broader efforts in workforce training and capacity development.
“The park is nearly ready, with several companies already expressing interest in occupancy,” Dafinone noted. “The board is making tangible progress—not just in infrastructure but in building the capabilities of Nigerian professionals.”
He revealed that the NCDMB reported a 56% milestone in its drive to localize the oil and gas workforce and has submitted specific legislative recommendations to strengthen the framework supporting these efforts. “We will continue collaborative discussions to drive this transformation and build a resilient, locally sustained energy sector,” he added.
Welcoming the committee, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, reported that ten companies have applied to operate within the park, six of which have already met the eligibility criteria. He urged lawmakers to exempt the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) from revenue deductions, in accordance with Section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, to allow for continued investment in local content initiatives.
Ogbe also outlined the board’s focus on attracting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capable of manufacturing critical industry components such as fasteners, protective equipment, and specialized fabrication products.
“There is growing interest in the park,” he said. “We’re preparing completed zones for occupancy, and power installation is underway. Once backup generators arrive, we will begin allocations.”
He encouraged qualified SMEs involved in sectors such as fabrication, industrial safety gear, and chemical processing to seize the emerging opportunities offered through the park’s facilities.
