The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Akintoye alongside Platforms Capital Investment Partners Limited and Duport Midstream Company Limited on an amended six-count charge involving alleged dishonesty and the diversion of $35 million belonging to an NCDMB project.

While being cross-examined by counsel to the first and second defendants, E. O. Adekwu, SAN, the witness, who previously served as Director of Finance and Personnel as well as Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at NCDMB, said the board lodged the complaint in February 2023 through a communiqué. According to him, the complaint highlighted that board meetings of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited had not been taking place.

Responding to questions on whether he had ever raised a formal complaint about the absence of board meetings, Yalah explained that meetings were initially held frequently at the beginning of the project.

“At the early stage of the project, board meetings were held consistently to brief members on the progress of the project. However, when several board members resigned, the meetings became irregular. That was when official complaints were made,” he said.

He added that the complaint also focused on the delay in implementing the project and the failure to hold board meetings as expected.

The witness further stated that in early February 2023, NCDMB issued a communiqué to the first defendant addressing the concerns.

“I remember clearly that in early February 2023, NCDMB sent a communiqué to the first defendant. The complaint we raised was reflected in Exhibit E,” he told the court.

Yalah also explained that the complaint regarding the absence of board meetings was written on the official letterhead of NCDMB and addressed to the first defendant in his capacity as chairman and managing director.

He also informed the court that NCDMB had serious concerns about the financial sustainability of the project.

Following the proceedings, Justice Akpan adjourned the case until March 10, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.

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The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe executed the contract at the Board’s liaison office in Abuja, with the project construction to be delivered within 30 months.

The Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC) is being financed by the Petroleum Development Technology Fund (PTDF), NCDMB, Shell Petroleum Development Company/Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and the Bayelsa State Government, in the ratio of 40:30:20 and 10 respectively.

The project is registered by guarantee, with the four organisations serving as partners. The contract agreement has been approved by the partners and signed by Julius Berger PLC.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB serves as the chairman of the registered company, hence he signed the contract on behalf of the partners, with the Director Legal Services, NCDMB, Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, Esq serving as the Secretary of the company.

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration had in February 2023 awarded the contract for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction scope of the OMRC to Julius Berger at the sum of N117billion.

The groundbreaking of the OMRC was performed in February 2023, a colorful ceremony attended by leading government officials, oil and gas stakeholders and community members.

Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe expressed delight on the execution of the contract, which marked the commencement of construction activities.

He noted that the project will catalyze immense economic benefits for the Bayelsa and the national economy during the construction and operation stages.

He thanked the partners of the project and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the project to date.

He indicated that the project was conceived to pay homage to the birthplace of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon commercial production journey which commenced in 1958.

He added that President Bola Tinubu believes that the project is long overdue hence the multi-level government and private sector collaboration was engineered to actualize the establishment of the project.

The OMRC project is expected to deliver a world-class oil and gas museum, showcasing the history of crude oil production in Nigeria and display of geological formations, early equipment, tools, and platforms used in the evolution of oil and gas activities.

In addition, the research testing center that will provide a facility where field trials of prototypes of oil and gas related indigenous research will be conducted, grant access to university students in oil and gas related disciplines to potentially better understand indigenous oil and gas technology advancements.

The OMRC project will also facilitate the commercialization of research through the creation of a suitable ecosystem for the development of home-grown technology for oil and gas operations and create a new commercial value chain from Museum and Research operations that will generate employment for Nigerians.

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The Fund addresses a critical challenge faced by local contractors in accessing much-needed funds for contracts awarded by oil and gas companies.

According to statement released by NCDMB that under the new product paper for the fund, N15 billion has been earmarked for the fund.

It added that “the single obligor limit has been increased from N20 million to N100 million.

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The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, in a paper entitled “Resolving the Nigerian Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustained Growth, and Affordability,” identified “alarming scale of pipeline vandalism and theft of crude oil” as the biggest threats to Nigeria’s energy security, noting that major oil and gas projects are required as well as a robust security strategy based on mutually beneficial collaboration with host communities.

To achieve the above objectives, the Board has undertaken to work with stakeholders in the industry to dedicate one week in every calendar year to signing Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) on new projects, as prospective investors could be motivated to act expeditiously to meet agreed-upon deadlines and regulators are similarly encouraged.

Engr. Ogbe noted that FDIs would “catalyze new projects in the Nigerian oil and gas industry,” and that fruitful collaboration amongst stakeholders and NCDMB would actualize the intentions of the Presidential Directives rolled out in March 2024 by the Presidency, and thus “fast-track the contracting cycle and incentivize investments in our sector.”

The NCDMB boss, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile, Esq., suggested that the FDI Week be incorporated into any of the major oil, gas and energy conferences held in the country.

According to him, the Board holds a similar biennial event called Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), which is attended by all the international and indigenous operating companies to share awareness of opportunities and projects to be executed.On the Board’s strategy to create a safe and secure operating environment for oil and gas companies and thus eliminate the huge costs associated with vandalism and attacks on personnel and installations, the Executive Secretary disclosed that NCDMB has introduced a new policy known as “Back to the Creeks Initiative.”

“We are convinced at the Board that the incessant tampering with crude oil pipelines and hostilities in oil-producing communities have a huge impact on energy security,” and that the new initiative is geared towards curtailing incidences of disruptions of oil industry operations through targeted interventions.

These include execution of corporate social responsibility projects in communities, provision of affordable finance to local contractors, upgrade of basic educational facilities in villages and communities, building the capacity of teachers and improving the infrastructure at that level.

The initiative, whose details would soon be publicized, is expected to create a stakeholder feeling in host communities and make them view industry assets around them as facilities that are bound up with their socio-economic well-being. Such an orientation would translate into safety of assets, increased crude oil production, drastically reduced security costs and more favourable pricing of petroleum products.

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The Filling Plant, the second after the commissioning of another 100MT LPG Storage and Bottling Plant in Kabukawa Layout, Katsina, Katsina State, in 2021, is part of a joint venture to establish five of such facilities in Northern Nigeria with a combined storage capacity of 1,000MT. Kano LPG Storage and Bottling Plant in Kano State is slated for commissioning in the first quarter of 2025, while construction work on another in Bauchi is at an advanced stage. Abuja is next in line.

In an exclusive interview with newsmen after the commissioning ceremony at the Kaduna Plant, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation of NCDMB, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, expressed satisfaction with the impressive strides of Butane Energy Ltd.

He pointed out that NCDMB was motivated to enter into equity partnership with the indigenous LPG storage, trading and marketing company after the latter presented “a [bankable] business plan aimed at enhancing gas penetration in northern Nigeria.”

He explained that the Board acted in line with its statutory mandate to catalyse in-country capacity development through equity funding.

NCDMD, he noted further, was also interested in job creation through such projects, as there were clear possibilities for employment into technical and managerial cadres as operations progressed.

According to him, no fewer than 200 Nigerians gained employment, and there was the added benefit of local content growth. Equally significant to the NCDMB was the consideration that the project was in alignment with Federal Government’s expressed commitment to net-zero emissions by 2026, and the campaign for cleaner alternative to kerosene and firewood as cooking fuel.

In his own remarks, the Chairman, Butane Energy Ltd, Alhaji Isa Inuwa Muhammed, stated that NCDMB is a co-owner of the company, and expressed gratitude to the Management of the NCDMB for the confidence reposed in his company, particularly in its vision and business approach.

According to the Chairman, the relationship between the Board and Butane is based on trust, and that the success thus far would greatly reinforce the partnership.

Established in 2017 as a player in LPG storage and marketing, Butane Energy Ltd has massive distribution assets in northern Nigeria, and is deliberate in its corporate objective to make the fuel accessible to every part of the region.

The LPG Filling Plant is part of NCDMB’s strategic third-party investments aimed at supporting in-country capacity development, reducing reliance on traditional fuels, fostering sustainability and building a greener future for Nigeria.

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Petroleum Commission, Ghana (PCG) towards developing and deepening local content regulations in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector. The signing ceremony took place at the sidelines of the 2024 Annual Local Content Conference and Exhibition held at Takoradi, Ghana.

The MoU is valid for three years and it is centred on the desire to build synergies through information sharing and transfer of skills of mutual interest and benefits.

Under the MoU, NCDMB will offer PCG strategic advice and guidance in the areas of laws, frameworks, knowledge exchange, procedures for baseline study, data collection on capacities that exist in Ghana, design of strategic plan for local content implementation in Ghana and other capacity development initiatives.

The MoU would also foster collaboration, provide opportunity for global experience, and facilitate advancement of knowledge, leading to local content development in the upstream petroleum sector.

In addition, NCDMB will offer technical support in the development of the framework in the formulation of regulations and policies for PCG Local Content laws.

NCDMB was established in 2010 by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, and is mandated to monitor, guide, develop, and promote local content practice in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and linkage sectors. On the other hand, the PCG was established by the Petroleum Commission Act, 2011 (Act 821) to regulate and manage the utilization of petroleum resources and coordinate the policies in the upstream petroleum sector under the laws of the Republic of Ghana.

On NCDMB’s side, the MoU was signed by the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, and the Director Legal Services, Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, Esq, while the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Commission, Ghana, Mr. Egbert Fabille Jrn and the Acting General Counsel, Nana Akua Agyei signed on behalf of their organisation.

NCDMB had signed a similar agreement with the Technical Secretary of the National Content Monitoring Committee of Senegal (ST-CNSCL) in February 2022. The ST-CNSCL is the agency responsible for the coordination and supervision of the development and implementation of the local content strategies in the Senegalese oil and gas sector.

Speaking earlier at the conference in Ghana, the Executive Secretary NCDMB urged African oil and gas service companies to collaborate among themselves and leverage their unique capabilities and capabilities. This approach would grow African local content sustainably and help meet the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), he noted.

He expressed delight at the collaborative spirit displayed by African countries, noting that “this event is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering strategic partnerships and driving sustainable growth within our sector.”

Commenting on the theme of the conference, which is “Attracting E&P Investments to Boost Local Content: New Pathways,” the Executive Secretary underscored the necessity for innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to unlock Africa’s hydrocarbon resources, estimated at over 125 billion barrels, accounting for about 10% of global reserves.

He reiterated the role of NCDMB as a business enabler, supporting the development of an efficient indigenous supply chain and delivering quality service competitively in the oil and gas industry.

Reflecting on NCDMB’s achievements, Engr. Ogbe noted significant progress in local content development, with an increase from less than 5% in 2010 to 54% in 2023, attributing the growth to the robust NOGICD Act, strategic implementation by the Board and collaboration by industry stakeholders.

He further highlighted the importance of economies of scale in attracting new investments and optimizing capacity utilization in the Exploration and Production (E&P) value chain.

He also celebrated the establishment of the African Energy Bank by the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) and the African Export–Import Bank. The bank is expected to fund major oil and gas projects across the continent, mitigating the reluctance of western financial institutions to support new investments in the sector.

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In the ‘2024 Half Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report (January 2024-June 2024),’ released on Tuesday in Abuja by PEBEC, the Board scored 71.6 per cent in Efficiency Compliance and 100 per cent in Transparency Assessment, to emerge with an Overall BFA Performance score of 80.1 per cent.

The Overall Business Facilitation Act Performance of MDAs, as explained by PEBEC, is assessed “using an efficiency and transparency scale weighted at 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively.

”With the latest Report, NCDMB has retained the top ranking for 30 consecutive months, having first secured the coveted position in the January 2022-June 2022 review period and subsequently in the second half of that year and the 12 months of 2023.

Under the Efficiency Compliance Ranking, PEBEC focuses its evaluation on “adherence to service level agreements (SLAs), cost management, procedural efficiency, One Government directive, and instances of Default Approval as provided in the Business Facilitation Act, 2022.”

For Transparency Ranking, the focus is on “how effectively MDAs…make essential information accessible to the public,” with particular emphasis on “clarity and completeness of published details on service level agreements, operating procedures, eligibility requirements, timelines and fees.”

In a year-on-year overview, PEBEC noted with satisfaction that “The MDAs have made progress in adhering to service level agreements and advancing digitization efforts,” even though “bureaucratic challenges and issues with consequence management persist.”

The Council states further that “The outlook for efficient public service delivery remains positive, given this administration’s commitment to creating a conducive environment,” and that “There has been significant improvement in the overall rankings, with over 60% of MDAs now scoring above average, compared to the previous report above-average scores.”

A total of 40 MDAs, categorised as ‘PEBEC Priority MDAs,’ were covered in the ‘2024 Half Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report.’ The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which scored 78.2%, and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) 74.8%, were second and third, respectively, in the ranking.

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Speaking on the theme “Local Content and Sustainable Inclusive Economic Growth” at the 2024 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference, Engr. Ogbe noted that recent discoveries of hydrocarbon deposits have increased the oil and gas reserves of the continent to about 126 billion barrels of oil and about 614 trillion cubic feet of gas.

He pointed out that the adoption of local content policy for the oil and gas industry and or other resources is “one veritable means through which African countries can ensure that the utilization of our resources will translate to energy security, economic development, and industrialization of the continent,” drawing on the Nigerian experience for illustration.

According to him, since the enactment of the NOGICD Act in 2010, Nigeria has recorded significant achievements, which include “the creation of over 30,000 direct jobs, over 15 million training manhours, award of over 90% of contracts to Nigerian-owned businesses, utilization of the expatriate management system to ensure 80% of oil companies’ management positions are held by Nigerians, growth of successful indigenous operators who are now responsible for the production of more than 60% of Nigeria’s domestic gas requirements and over 15% of crude oil production, to mention a few.”

In totality, he noted, “As at the end of 2023, we have reached Nigerian Content level of 54% and we are committed to achieve the set target of 70% by 2027.”

Engr. Ogbe, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile Esq., shared NCDMB’s experience as a regulator responsible for deepening and driving local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, noting that “a successful local content policy must entail the deployment of six (6) key parameters, namely, regulatory framework, gap analysis, capacity building, funding and incentives, research and development, and access to market.

According to him, “a law, or decree depending on the political arrangement in a country, sets the framework and boundaries for all local content practitioners.” In Nigeria, the NOGICD Act of 2010 is the regulatory framework that drives local content policy.

A structured capacity-building intervention, he stated, is also necessary to foster the development of in-country capacities and capabilities, while gap analysis is to ensure that baseline and periodic gap evaluations are carried out to ascertain the human capacity and infrastructure deficits which will then form the basis for developing initiatives, projects, and programmes that will seek to close the identified gaps.

The NCDMB boss emphasised the importance of research and development, which he noted would facilitate the development of innovative solutions to address peculiar challenges that are being experienced in a nation’s oil and gas industry. In addition, local companies require incentives and low-interest, long-term funds to be able to develop their capacities which will, in turn, enable them to compete favourably in the oil and industry.

He equally underscored the necessity for access to market as developed capacities and capabilities need patronage to be sustained. A market, within a country and across international boundaries, is imperative for the potential benefits of enhanced capabilities to be maximised.

A robust local content implementation framework that serves as a blueprint, spelling out how local content policy will be implemented, also has to be in place. Five key components of the framework, as instituted by the NCDMB, are Analysis, Guidelines and Regulations, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Feedback Mechanism. Faithful adherence to these elements accounts significantly for the success of local content practice in Nigeria.

The 2024 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference continues today in Windhoek, with captains of industry from across the African continent in attendance. Namibia has estimated crude oil reserves of 11 billion barrels and gas reserves of 2.2 trillion cubic feet.

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The engagement seeks to establish technical cooperation between the NCDMB and the Ghanaian Commission through capacity building and learning from the Board’s rich experiences, best practices and procedures in local content development.

Part of the objectives are to foster the Petroleum Commission of Ghana’s efforts to institute an effective framework that will enhance compliance and deepen local content in their nation’s oil and gas industry.

The opening day’s activities included a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, at the Board’s liaison office in Lagos. The NCDMB’s helmsman welcomed the delegation to Nigeria and relayed the Board’s unwavering commitment to the development of African local content.

In his opening remarks, the Director Monitoring and Evaluation NCDMB, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu emphasized the need for close cooperation among African oil-producing countries, noting that the technological and financial challenges facing the industry cannot be solved when countries operate in silos. He canvassed that African oil producing countries should develop unique and specialized capabilities that would facilitate effective trade amongst themselves, and grow the African economy, as envisaged by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA).

Thereafter, other key officials shared NCDMB’s strategies and operating templates covering supplier development initiatives, Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) and the structure and operations of the agency.

Presentations in the later days of the week would focus on the operating framework for Nigerian Content planning, research and statistics, succession planning processes, Nigerian Joint Qualification System (NJQS), Biometrics system, human capacity building, institutional strengthening, Nigerian Content Equipment Certification (NCEC) and other templates.

Other themes that would be explored as part of the engagement include the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) operating framework, the Projects Certification and Authorization Division (PCAD) templates and implementing framework, the Monitoring and Evaluation implementing framework and the Community Content Guidelines and Stakeholder Management strategies and many more.

The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Project 100 companies and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), which is the umbrella body of leading international and indigenous oil producing companies in Nigeria would equally make presentations at the sessions.

The engagement would end on Friday with NCDMB and the Commission reviewing a draft memorandum of understanding and protocols for data sharing.

The engagement with the Ghana Petroleum Commission agency follows similar sessions the Board has had with the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and the Mozambique’s national oil company, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), earlier in the year.

The Board’s support to the African petroleum industry is propelled by the Nigerian Content 10-year strategic roadmap, which has sectoral and regional linkages as one of its five pillars.

A key initiative of the pillar on sectorial and regional linkage is the Board’s close collaboration with the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO).

Under the collaboration, NCDMB has organized several workshops in partnership with APPO, with the inaugural edition held in 2021 at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where the idea for an African Energy Bank, was mooted by the NCDMB.

The Energy Bank has now become fully established under APPO, with the headquarters approved for Abuja.NCDMB Corporate Communications

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