NSE advocates improved local content policies in oil, gas sectors
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has been elected chairman of the Governors’ Forum of the nine oil-producing states. The states are Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Edo, Ondo, among others.
His election was held yesterday, in Abuja, during a stakeholders meeting comprising the affected governors, the board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as well as the advisory committee of the commission.
The body also resolved to work in synergy with the commission to ensure that abandoned projects in the affected states are given accelerated attention to ensure completion, promote peace, unity, progress and development in the region.
In his post election speech, Uzodimma, who is the Chairman of the All Progressive Governors Forum and the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, stressed the need to increase the oversight of projects, including building a synergy between the board and the committee.
He regretted that a forensic report by the committee indicated that inadequate funding militated against the operations of the commission, urging a closer working relationship between the new board, the management, members of the staff and President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the projects are completed.
In another development, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala, has called for renewed efforts to strengthen local content policies in the oil and gas industry.
Oguntala made the call at the National Assembly Stakeholders Engagement organised by the National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).
According to her, such policies will increase participation of Nigerian engineers, technologists and contractors in the industry, emphasising jobs creation, stimulating economic growth, reducing the country’s dependency on foreign expertise, thereby retaining more value within the economy.
The Nigerian oil and gas sector is bedeviled by challenges among which are weak governance, foreign operatives, and inadequate local financial support for operatives and corruption.
At the forum entitled, ‘Deepening Collaborations Between the Oil and Gas Industry and the National Assembly,’ Oguntala lauded NAPE and the National Assembly for their efforts in strengthening local content laws governing the oil and gas industry.
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