By Christie U. Omonigho
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) said they have agreed in principle to explore opportunities for collaboration to advance national objectives in local content development and energy infrastructure.
They made this known at a meeting of the Management of the NCDMB, led by the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, and top Management personnel of the NGIC, led by the Managing Director, Mr. Mustapher M. Anas. Energy Window International learnt that deliberations were centered on possible joint initiatives in the midstream sector, aligning NGIC projects with local content imperatives, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and joint project execution.
Energy Window International also gathered that the NGIC team, which was on a courtesy visit to the NCDMB liaison office in Abuja presented an overview of existing projects such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) pipelines, highlighting such as potential areas for collaboration for increased gas supply and revenue generation, enhanced energy security, economic growth and job creation.
Engr. Ogbe was reported to have reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing local content development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry while citing NCDMB’s ongoing partnership with Betagas as a successful example of gas development initiatives. He also stressed the strategic importance of effective engagements between NGIC and the smaller companies in the gas segment of the industry, as it will aim at fostering inclusive growth in the oil and gas sector. He said that the proposals of the NGIC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) would be reviewed in line with the Board’s mandate.
The Managements of both companies agreed to engage in follow-up meetings to discuss specific areas of collaboration and to exchange information on best practices, data, and industry developments. There was also an agreement to collectively explore on all the potential projects which already align with the mandates of both organizations.
The NCDMB boss was joined at the meeting by the NCDMB Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, and Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Ifeanyi Ukoha, while the NGIC team included Mr. Audu Ibrahim, Executive Director, Projects, and Mr. Mark A. Anukwu, Executive Director, Administration.