The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has
debunked the sensational headlines reported in some newspapers last
week to the effect that the Board has queried the infrastructural
development in the rail sector and delayed passage of the Petroleum
Industry Governance Bill (PIGB). The Board’s General Manager,
Corporate Communications, Dr. Ginah O. Ginah who represented the
Executive Secretary at a one-day sensitization seminar on “Local
Content Development in Shipping, Oil and Gas Logistics Operation in
Nigeria,” organized by Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria
(MARAN) recently in Lagos, said it is absurd to ascribe such story to
an agency of government established by law to be at the forefront of
local content development.
Dr. Ginah said he was shocked and embarrassed by the publication and
wishes to categorically reject and refute the story as complete
misrepresentation. He declared the entire reportage as replete
inaccuracies and conjectures Specifically, the GM Corporate
Communications said that the Federal Government’s focus on rail
projects abandoned for three decades are impactful and will catalyze
commerce across the country and enhance the revamping of the steel
industry, which will in turn accelerate local content performance in
the oil and gas industry and linkage sectors. He said that
participants at the seminar agree that there is need for all to
quicken the passage of all the Petroleum Industry Bills, not just the
Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) as to spur more investments.
He reiterated that NCDMB is determined to collaborate with other
stakeholders, including NIMASA to implement and enforce the provisions
of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act for the
benefit of Nigeria and all Nigerians. He affirmed that the Board has
continued to enjoy excellent support from the highest level of
government under President Mohammadu Buhari , which has enabled the
agency to discharge of its mandate