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Stakeholders proffer strategies to local content development in oil, gas

By Emeka Nwachukwu
18 October 2018   |   3:42 am
Stakeholders and industry experts have canvassed solutions to local content development in the oil and gas sector.The experts spoke in Lagos at the Shell Nigeria Content Day Exhibition.

Chairman, Strides Group, Mr. Moritz Abazie (left), Manager, Contract and Procurement Production, Shell Nigeria, Chioma Okpochi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Integrated, Steve Ayiyi, Representative of General Manager, S and E, Shell Nigeria, Obiorah Chidozie, after a panel session at Shell Nigeria Content Day Exhibition in Lagos …yesterday

Stakeholders and industry experts have canvassed solutions to local content development in the oil and gas sector.The experts spoke in Lagos at the Shell Nigeria Content Day Exhibition.The theme of the event, which involved exhibitors, Shell staff/contractors, as well as other key industry stakeholders’ was: “Made in Nigeria, fit for the future.”

The exhibition showcased in-country manufacturing opportunities and competitive local alternatives in the sector.Among key participants at the event were Engineering Manager, Shell Nigeria, Nnamdi Anowi, Asset Integration Lead, Jonathan Amachree, Head Maintenance and Execution at shell Nigeria, Ken Ibeneme, Chairman, Strides Group, and Mr. Moritz Abazie.

Others were Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Integrated, Steve Ayiyi, Head Turnaround Maintenance, Akintunde Olasubulumi, and Manager, Contract and Procurement Production, Chioma Okpochi.

According to the experts, with adequate investment, trainings and mentorship geared towards the development of local content, the manufacturing sector can generate massive employment, fight poverty and create wealth.It can further enhance exports and diversify foreign exchange earnings, especially now that the Federal Government is looking for alternative routes off the oil sector.

Chairman of Strides Group, Mr. Moritz Abazie, who identified capacity building as key to the development of local content, said there was an urgent need for increased training and mentorship to get more value.He spoke on “Local content opportunities/challenges in production and maintenance engineering.”

He said training should be domesticated to handle issues that are peculiar to our environment and generate adequate human capital for oil and gas industry. Abazie, who noted the need for a long-term business vision, said starters in the industry should strive to build capacity to international standards; and facilitate the implementation of total compliance with local content requirements.

This, he, added should be pursued through effective human capacity development strategies in alignment with Federal Government directives and applicable laws.On his part, Anowi identified quality of service and service delivery, joint industry partnership, long-run investment plans, introduction of technology in ease of business, as the greatest assets to a sound local content survival.

Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), Mr. Bayo Ojulari explained that the nation’s content development drive offers a viable platform through the company’s contribution to the in-country value creation and retention aspirations of the government.The stakeholders lamented the huge shortfall, despite that Nigeria, with a population of over 180 million people, is obviously the biggest market in Africa, and ought to be a strong market for its manufacturing sector. The market becomes bigger when West African sub-region and other African markets are added.

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