NCDMB Warns Fraudulent Oil and Gas Operators
GILBERT EKUGBE
The Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has sounded a note of warning to fraudulent oil and gas operators planning to take advantage of flaws in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) act.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, while on a facility tour of the Falck Prime Atlantic training facility in Ipara, Ogun state said the Board is up to its responsibilities to ensure that illicit operations are checked in the nation’s oil and gas sector..
In his words,”This is why we are here to ensure that when we get the culprits and we deal with them in accordance with the provisions of the act. We do not claim that it is full proof that is why we are on top of our game in carrying out our operations.”
He lauded Falck Prime Atlantic, for maintaining the standards since the conceptualisation of the firm, saying that the Board would give its maximum support to ensure that the company reaps its investment.
He commended Falck Prime Atlantic for its investment in building human capacity for the sector, reaffirming the Board’s commitment to local content development.
“It is very impressive and as you can see alot of investments have gone into this. It is a facility established 10 years ago and I am impressed the standards are still maintained and you can see the cleanliness of the facility which is meant to train people on all manner of safety and technical skills,” he said.
He said the company’s investment would save Nigeria’s hard-earned foreign exchange spent on acquiring international trainings needed to build capacities and technical capabilities in the oil and gas industry.
“It has got all the international certifications and affiliations. That is what we want because we do not want substandard training and you are aware that oil and gas industry does not accept mediocrity or unqualified personnel to work on board. This shows that Nigeria is making tremendous improvement in terms of building capacity in the technical skill area. It will not only serve the oil and gas industry but also the fire fighting space and most fire fighting workers they recruit have the requisite training obtainable abroad,” he said.
He added: “They have invested and believed in Nigeria and they should be commended. The next step is for us to give them the maximum support in order that they reap the benefits of their tremendous investment in Nigeria. There are a couple of them around each with different levels of standards, but this facility is also leading the pack in terms of standards and I think we have come a long way in building human capacity in the oil and gas sector.”
The Managing Director, Falck Prime Atlantic, Ayo Otuyalo, said the visit was to showcase all that the company has been doing for over 10 years, while also seeking to get certification from the Board.
“For us this visit is what we have been doing to showcase Nigerian content and the investment we have made in this facility in the last ten years,” he said.
He stated that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) have been supportive all the way, saying that is why the company is still in business.
On the incessant fire outbreaks in Lagos State, he said the company has created awareness to the State Government, adding that Fire Service officials have underground training on how to combat any kind of fire outbreak in the country.
“In the next five years, we see ourselves as the biggest fire training school in Africa where we can train fire men up to international standards to combat any kind of fire such as gas fire, industrial fire in the country.
We also here to showcase that we are way beyond our peers in the industry. Over millions of dollars have been invested so far,” he added.
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