By John Ikani
The Co-Chair of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo on Thursday received in audience the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe in Abuja.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the Executive Secretary and the Board’s top management to brief the Minister on the agency’s mandate, activities and initiatives.
The presentation dwelt extensively on the Board’s third-party investments, over 60% of which are gas-based. The NCDMB team informed the minister that the investments are in furtherance of the Federal Government’s plan to power the Nigerian economy with gas resources as well as the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.
In his remarks, the Minister commended the Board for investing in worthy third-party projects, which have helped to create jobs and deepen local content, with some beginning to yield return on investments. He pledged his commitment to support NCDMB to achieve its mandate, which is key to meeting the economic aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He stressed that due process must be followed in carrying out the operations of the Board, in line with the instructions and example set by Mr. President.
The Minister also promised to visit the Board’s third-party projects as well as the beneficiaries of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, especially the projects that focus specifically on gas.
The Co-Chair of the NCDMB’s Governing Council also commended the Board for its strategic role in approving the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project, noting that the project had brought a lot of benefits to the Nigerian economy.
Some of the senior management of the Board at the meeting included the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Projects Certification and Authorization, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Acting Director Legal Services, Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, Esq and Acting Director Finance and Personnel Management, Mr. Ifeanyi Ukoha.
The appointment of Hon. Ekpo as the Co-Chair of the Governing Council of the NCDMB was approved by Mr. President in mid-April and announced publicly on Thursday via a statement by the Special Adviser Media & Publicity to the President, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
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