Nigerian Content Board Lists New Requirements for Import Permits, Licenses

There are indications that service companies and other operators in the Nigerian petroleum industry who wish to participate in bid rounds and securing licenses, permits and approvals in the industry will have to present proves that they have complied with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGIC) Act 2010 before they can be given the required permission.

There are indications that service companies and other operators in the Nigerian petroleum industry who wish to participate in bid rounds and securing licenses, permits and approvals in the industry will have to present proves that they have complied with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGIC) Act 2010 before they can be given the required permission.
Shipping Position Daily learnt in Lagos last week that the decision was reached by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board at a meeting with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) where it was agreed that a committee should be set up to ensure the implementation of this mandate.
The committee is expected to develop procedure for operationalizing sections 3 and 7 of the NOGIC Act, which provides that compliance with Nigerian Content provisions, promotion of Nigerian Content development and submission of Nigerian Content Plan will constitute conditions for the award of licenses, permits and any other project in the oil and gas industry.
The committee is also expected to address the increasing incidence of staff disengagement by operators and design partnership model for critical information sharing between DPR and NCDMB to facilitate effective regulation of the industry.
Presently, the DPR handles bid rounds and grants licenses and permits which producing and service companies need to operate in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The meeting was led by the Director of DPR, Mr. Osten Olurunsola and the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Ernest Nwapa, with top management team of both agencies in attendance.
In his welcome address, the Director of DPR commended NCDMB for the numerous achievements it had recorded within two years of its establishment, adding that Nigerian Content has been the shining light in the industry within the period.
He called for close collaboration between the two agencies, in a way that will be evident for stakeholders to see.
“When we are seen working together, people will find it difficult to play one agency against the other and when we have issues, we will examine them,” he added.
In his comments, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB maintained that the oil and gas industry can only make sustainable progress if all agencies of government connected with the sector have a common understanding.
“Once there are conflicting signals from NCDMB, DPR and NAPIMS, there will be problems. We want people from our offices to be acting on the basis of a common understanding of the laws and government policies.
In a bid to build a common understanding for its mandate, Nwapa said the Board had engaged several ministries, departments and agencies connected with the oil and gas industry and Nigerian Content implementation and had recorded immense successes.