The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would focus on creation of jobs and upscale the capacity and skills of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry, the new Executive Secretary, Simbi Wabote has said.

Speaking on assumption of office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Wabote commended the Board for recording huge achievements in the last six years.

However, he noted that the urgent task before the Board now is to review its activities and implementation process and evolve new strategies for enhanced performance. 
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His words: “The next step is that we are going to take stock and ask ourselves, how have we implemented the Act, where have we made progress and where do we need to change our tact and strategies. How have we been able to achieve some of the targets set out in the schedule, where are we in each of those categories and what are the big ones we need to focus on to move to the next level?”

Although he admitted that the oil and gas industry is facing challenges, particularly the sharp drop in crude oil price, reduction in activities and inability to fund new projects, Wabote pledged to lead the Board to find prospects in the circumstances, adding that, “it is in times like this that opportunities are created because you ask yourself, what can we do differently?”

He also hinted that the Board would extend its focus to indigenous operating companies, noting that the Board’s remit goes beyond monitoring international oil companies to include the midstream and some part of the downstream segments of the industry. He emphasized that the Board would look at the entire oil and gas spectrum to see how to create opportunities for Nigerians, support vendors and assist them to deliver optimal value for the country.

Reacting to the erroneous impression that NCDMB is responsible for the protracted contracting cycle, Wabote insisted that the Board would not abdicate its roles in the bid process as had been canvassed in some quarters, tasking operators and service companies to play their part to address the problem.

He explained: “I have been on the other side and I can confirm that the hue and cry about delays in contracting cycle is not just on the part of NCDMB. The operators and contractors have to clean their houses if they want things to be done differently.”

He also dismissed insinuations that his background in the industry would influence him to unduly favour operating companies in the implementation of Nigerian Content, stating, “I am now a government official and government has its procedure and processes that we must implement and we will implement the Nigerian Content Law to the letter. That is the objective with which I am taking this office. I am accountable to people that put me here.”