simbi wabote - NOGSpeed - Energy-Affair

The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has launched an ambitious advocacy to promote sustainable local content development in Africa especially in Nigeria where the Association has made great progress in training local engineers.
The Association, an indigenous organization said it has built capacity and have developed the know-how as many of its members come from the industry and highly experienced.
National Chairman of PETAN, Engr. Wole Ogunsanye, said “We raise funds from Nigerian banks. We put those funds to use, and you are seeing what it is here. It is in Nigeria’s interest that this facility, all of the capacity that we have built, is utilized for Nigeria.”
As such he said companies operating in Nigeria must obey the local content law which came into effect in 2010.
Ogunsanya, said adherence to the law will help build capacity, enhance patronage, and improve the national economy.
He made the comment after he led a team on a facility visit and tour of Solewant Group Plant in Eleme local government area of Rivers State.
Solewant Group is an indigenous company that deals in pipe fabrication and coating.
He said, “We cannot afford to outsource these kinds of services that Nigerians have put on the ground to anybody, whether within or outside Nigeria. It is not in our economic interest.”
While referring to the speech made by the Group Managing Director of Solewant Group Ogunsanye said, “ The same factory in China is employing 14, 000 Chinese. We want this factory in the least to employ 5,000 Nigerians.’
While noting that PETAN is going to be advocating for the firm (Solewant) in that regard, he added, “We are going to be advocating for all PETAN members that have built capacity to make sure they we have the patronage.
“1The local content law that was passed in 2010 is a law of Nigeria and it must be obeyed. So, PETAN is at the forefront to make sure that we drive that”.
The PETAN national chairman further said the association will collaborate with Solewant to see to it that their products are exported to other African countries and beyond.
“We are not even stopping in Nigeria alone. We’re looking at the Sub-Sahara Africa countries. This company here, Solewant can produce for this same thing in Angola. They can produce it in Mozambique.
They can supply Ghana. They can supply anywhere there is oil business in the sub Saharan Africa, Senegal.”
Earlier, the Group Managing Director of Solewant, Solomon Ewanehi, assured of the company’s resolve to contribute its quota to the oil and gas industry.
Ewanehi stated, “We want to respond to the Presidential Directive that we must increase the production of oil and gas, and we want to support the regulators.

The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on Tuesday at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), corporate headquarters of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Yenagoa, tasked organisations in the country to treat personal data as highly sensitive information by instituting appropriate measures to minimise data breaches.
The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has charged organisations across the country to treat personal data as highly sensitive information by instituting appropriate measures to minimise data breaches.
At a one-day Data Protection and Privacy Induction Training for staff of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, on Tuesday at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), corporate headquarters, facilitators drew attention to the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023, designed “to safeguard the rights of individuals regarding their personal data and establish guidelines for organisations handling such data,” while highlighting multiple vulnerabilities in current data management systems.
In the lead presentation, Ms Adaobi Fatima Sanni said data protection is primarily concerned with measures and mechanisms to safeguard data against unauthorised access, and breaches or loss, pointing out that under Section 37 of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as Amended), “The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications” is “guaranteed and protected.”
‘Principles of Processing Personal Data,’ as highlighted by the presenter, include Data Minimization, which demands that “Data should be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purpose for which they were collected,” “Accuracy” and “Storage Limitation.” Under the latter, she empasised that “Personal data should be kept only for the period necessary for the purposes…. Once data is no longer needed they should be deleted or rendered anonymous.”
To ensure compliance with the NPD Act, she urged organisations to develop a data privacy policy, process data in line with the principles of the NDPA, designate a senior officer as a data protection officer, register as a data controller/processor of major importance with the Commission, engage a DPCO to file data protection audit, and to direct contractors, vendors to comply with the Act.
In the second major presentation titled “Technical and Organizational Measures for Data Protection,” the facilitator, Mr Victor Danladi Barde, said Section 40 of the NDPA sets out strict requirements for data controllers/processors to take appropriate action within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach.
On cybersecurity, relating to protection of networks, computers and other electronic devices against unauthorised access to or interception of data stored on them, he listed necessary proactive and reactive measures. Proactive security practices include data loss prevention (DLP), penetration testing, nurturing cybersecurity culture, and attack surface management. These security measures, he emphasised, help organisations “not only identify the vulnerabilities beforehand but also get to rectify them to avoid any future issues.
Reactive security measures include vulnerability assessment, disaster recovery plan, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and incident response. According to him, “Responding to security incidents quickly, efficiently and in an organized manner will help organizations minimize damages, mitigate threats, restore operations, services and processes.”
In another presentation, Mrs Adama Isamade dwelt on why organisations have to take the issue of data protection and the rights of data subjects seriously, highlighting practical experiences of organisations in regard to compliance and non-compliance. She recalled the case of a breach that resulted in litigation against a major financial institution that ended in the latter having to pay over N580 million.
Earlier in a welcome address the Acting General Manager, Planning Research and Statistics (PRS) of the NCDMB, Mr Ene Ette, expressed appreciation to the NDPC for the training provided to staff at no cost to the Board. He assured that the knowledge obtained would be put into practice to enhance better data management practices in the organisation.
In a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the training, Mr Akinlade Abisoye, a supervisor in PRS, thanked the facilitators for the initiative, stating that the enlightenment was profound.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Friday, September 6, 2024 met with Dr Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, at the Government House, Umuahia.
The meeting was on the request of the Abia State government for the participation of the NCDMB in the proposed Abia Innovation and Industrial Park (AIIP), Owaza, Abia State
The AIIP, which covers 1995 hectares of land, is made of industrial, commercial, and residential areas.
The project is expected to cost over USD 1.3 billion with the potential to create thousands of jobs.
The AIIP also hopes to harness the abundant oil and gas reserves within Ukwa for the development of the park and communities within the state and beyond.
The NCDMB participated at the groundbreaking of the AIIP in September 2023 and promised to share its experience with the state government to ensure that its park becomes a success.
The Board had completed the pilot phase of its Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) at Emeyal 1 in Bayelsa State and at Odukpani in Cross River State, and they will come on stream soon.
Other oil and gas parks being developed by the Board are located in Ikwe Community, Onna Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Oguta in Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State, and Ilaje, in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) was conceived by the Board to develop facilities close to oil fields where manufacturing of oil and gas components as well as research and development can be carried out.
For the parks the Board adopted a shared-services strategy where it provides infrastructure such as power supply and utilities such as road network, water, waste treatment, and so on for businesses that will be located on the site.
This strategy enables manufacturers to focus on their core business of manufacturing rather than adding the role of power generation, road construction, etc to their operations.
This model is intended to reduce the operating cost for the local manufacturers.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe has described the Nigerian Content strides of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) Train 7 Project as impressive.
While on a visit to the NLNG six-train plant, Train 7 Project construction site, and the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) training centre, Maritime Centre for Excellence (MCOE) in Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State, Engr. Ogbe reiterated the need to expand collaboration and advocacy for Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.
Engr. Ogbe was received by Mr. Olakunle Osobu, Deputy Managing Director; Engr. Nnamdi Anowi, General Manager of Production; Engr. Ali Uwais, Train 7 Project Director; Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed, NSML Managing Director/CEO; and other senior management officials of the company.
In his address, the Executive Secretary highlighted how the Train 7 Project has significantly impacted local capacity via the production of ancillary components and accessories within Nigeria, thereby contributing directly to the project’s successful execution. He affirmed that the recent Presidential Directives on Local Content implementation, which mandates that contracts in the oil and gas sector be awarded exclusively to local companies with proven in-country capabilities, was also instrumental to these achievements.
While harping on the progress made, Engr. Ogbe stated, “The accomplishments we are witnessing today at the NLNG Train 7 Project are a testament to the NLNG’s unwavering commitment to Nigerian Content. This project stands as a beacon of what we can achieve when we prioritise our local industries and talents.”
The NCDMB boss further lauded NLNG’s management for achieving a 52 million man-hours on the Train 7 project with zero lost time injury (LTI). He assured that “we will support you to achieve everything you desire to accomplish for the overall development of Nigeria.”
Engr. Ogbe also commended his immediate predecessor, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, for his immense contributions to the approval, take-off and success of the Train 7 project.
On the Maritime Centre for Excellence (MCOE), the NCDMB boss expressed delight that it is the first training centre in Africa to receive accreditation from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK MCA) to deliver and issue certificates for the STCW 2010 Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and Basic Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations courses.
The MCOE, a maritime training and research facility, was established to enhance maritime expertise in Nigeria and the West African region. It currently hosts a specialised training programme for marine service providers in the upstream oil and gas sector, with support from NCDMB.
In response, the NLNG Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Olakunle Osobu, who represented Dr. Philip Mshelbila, NLNG’s MD/CEO, lauded NCDMB’s unwavering support for the Train 7 Project. He described the partnership as a shining example of the public-private collaboration that can drive Nigeria’s industrial growth. He emphasised that NLNG’s Nigerian Content deliverables showcase the power of strategic collaboration and capacity building, aligning with the NCDMB’s broader objectives and contributing to national development goals.
Mr. Osobu further reiterated that Nigerian Content was not just a regulatory requirement for NLNG but a core business strategy. “We are committed to going beyond compliance, embracing Nigerian Content as a fundamental part of our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria,” he added.
He also highlighted the economic impact of the Train 7 Project, stating that the addition of Train 7 will expand Nigeria’s LNG production capacity from 22 Metric Tons (MT) to 30MT per annum, which will not only boost the nation’s economy by creating jobs and driving sustainable development but also reinforce Nigeria’s position as a formidable player in the global energy market.
Engr. Ogbe’s visit comes on the heels of a recent tour of BEAMCO Limited, where pumps and valves are locally assembled for the Train 7 Project, and the commissioning of the Daewoo Galvanising Plant at Abam-ama, Okrika, Rivers State.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has donated a total of 52 wheelchairs to the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Bayelsa State.
The donation was presented to the Association by the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Wednesday at the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa. In his address at the brief presentation ceremony, Engr. Ogbe said the wheelchair donation was in fulfilment of a pledge by NCDMB at a meeting with the Association. “We are not turning our eyes away from your needs,” he assured the Association, adding, “We have to aid your mobility.”
He urged members of the Association to eschew any tendency toward antagonism when seeking the attention of public agencies on any issue, stating that the Board would readily engage with them in exploring ways to be supportive.
The NCDMB boss said entitlement mentality has not been helpful to youths of the Niger Delta, pointing out that resources under the management of Federal Government agencies are for all Nigerians.
He enjoined youths to acquire useful skills so they could be productive and employable. He promised that the Board would provide training opportunities for vocational skills for members of the Association of Persons with Disabilities in the near future.
In response to a request by the Association for consideration for employment, Engr. Ogbe promised that any time vacancies exist, members with appropriate educational qualifications and skills would be employed.
Receiving the wheelchairs on behalf of members, the Association Chairman, Hon. Ekpomukumor Mayor, expressed profound appreciation to the Management for its prompt action on requests made in March. “This is a good sign – you are a listening leader,” he declared.
He and other members of the Association Executive also thanked the Management for the training programmes being planned by the Board.
The event was witnessed by Directors of the Board, namely, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Project Certification and Authorisation Directorate, Barr. Naboth Onyesoh, Legal Services, Ifeanyi Ukoha, Finance and Personnel Management, and the General Manager, Corporate Corporations and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, Esq.