NEWS
NOGICD Act Was Not Weakened by Presidential Orders on Oil Sector – NCDMB
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The three Executive Orders issued by President Bola Tinubu on the Oil and Gas Industry in March 2024 did not erode the relevance of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act on the operations of the oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has said.
This was one of key messages from the Local Content Masterclass and panel discussion, held on Monday at the African Energy Week, which started in Cape Town, South Africa. Discussions at the panel highlighted Nigeria’s local content’s milestones and processes, provided local lessons for other African oil and gas producing countries, clarified misconceptions, as well as positioned Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for investment.The panellists included the Director Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, General Manager Monitoring and Evaluation, Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, and General Manager, Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), Fateemah Mohammed, and the session was moderated by the General Manager Corporate Communications, NCDMB, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi.Giving insight into the Presidential Directives, Engr. Bamidele observed that some oil and gas stakeholders grossly misinterpreted the Presidential Directives to mean that the NOGICD Act had been relegated or sidestepped and they no longer need to comply with the provisions of the law. “The Special Adviser to the President on Energy had to clarify that the Presidential Directives did not set aside local content. They only mandated that existing capacities must be patronized and middlemen must be excluded from the contracting process.”The three Executive Orders are the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance, Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Cost and Timelines and Presidential Directive on Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc.Bamidele confirmed that NCDMB had streamlined its contracting strategies to align with the Presidential Directives, collapsed its touchpoints in the contract approval process from 9 to 5, thereby contributing to the shortening the industry’s contracting cycle, reduction of the cost of projects and catalysing new oil and gas projects from operating oil and gas companies.He announced that qualified international service companies can now be awarded the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCEC), to facilitate their direct participation in deepwater operations in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, as provided in the NOGICD Act. This policy will attract investments into the sector, and is consistent with the Presidential Directives, he explained. On Board’s strategy for capacity development for new oil and gas projects, he said plans are afoot to conduct training in skill areas that are in a high demand in the sector. He underlined the need to always streamline capacity building initiatives with requirements and changing dynamics in the industry.The Board is also committed to developing critical infrastructure such as the Brass Island Shipyard with support of the NLNG, as well as completing and operationalizing the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks at Odukpani, Cross River State and Emeyal-1 in Bayelsa State, he hinted.Counselling sister Africa countries, Bamidele noted that local content and capacity building strategies must be country-specific, and policy makers must understand the mindset and skill sets of their nationals. He further advised that local content policies and capacity building models must be relevant and applicable to the host country’s technological, educational and manpower capacities.While making his comments, the General Manager Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye outlined the robust mechanism the Board deploys in monitoring companies’ execution of oil and gas projects, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the NOGICD Act, and retaining significant value in the economy.On the impact of divestment of oil and gas assets on Nigerian content compliance, he stated that the transfer of assets to indigenous operators had not impacted negatively on compliance. This is because the Board sustained the compliance protocols it had established with the previous owners. However, the Board is ready to support successor companies to navigate challenges they might have with compliance, he added.Speaking further Ajimijaye highlighted the importance of robust research and development initiatives to achieve sustainable local content development. He indicated that NCDMB had developed an R&D roadmap and collaborated regularly with operating companies, service firms, academia, and other relevant institutions.Currently, NCDMB has established six centers of excellence in key universities across six zones of the country, while Research and Development Fund has been deployed to support commercialization of viable projects, with 15 research ideas and inventions currently supported to ensure their successful development, he added.In her contributions, the General Manager, NCDF, Fateemah Mohammed explained that the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund is a dedicated finance scheme that provides single digit financing to Nigerian service companies, enabling them to grow capacities and play key roles in the oil and gas industry.Giving insight into the seven products of the NCI Fund, she dwelt on the Community Contractors Fund, which is a N50bn finance scheme designed for contractors in local communities, whereby they can assess up to N100 million, at single digit to execute contracts in the oil and gas industry and grow the local economy. Another unique product is the US$20m Women in Oil and Gas Intervention Fund managed by Nigeria-Export-Import Bank, for deepening the capacities and capabilities of women entrepreneurs and industrialists to fully participate in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.Recommending similar funding schemes to other African countries, Mohammed disclosed NCDMB’s aspiration to grow the NCI Fund and collaborate with other financial institutions to unlock larger projects and enhance skills development of the populace.
NEWS
Police Detain Woman for Alleged Killing of Co-wife in Bauchi
The police command in Bauchi State, said it has apprehended a housewife over alleged killing of her co-wife following a domestic violence incident in Bauchi metropolis.
This was contained in a statement by the spokesman of the command, SP Nafiu Habib, on Monday in Bauchi.
He said that the command detained the suspect (name withheld) on Sept.
27 for alleged culpable homicide following a domestic incident at Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate in Bauchi.Habib said that on Sept. 27, at about 4:05 p.m., the Police C-Division, Bauchi, received credible information that there was a domestic incident between two wives residing in the same household belonging to their husband.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the 33-year-old suspect, who is the second wife, allegedly acting under hallucinations, struck the first wife with pestle on the forehead, and the victim fell unconscious.
“Upon receipt of the report, detectives attached to C-Division immediately mobilised to the scene.
“The scene was documented, and the victim was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where she was certified dead by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy,” he said.
Habib said that the police recovered the pestle used in committing the offence.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, as directing the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation and prosecution.
Aliyu condoled with the bereaved family and cautioned against domestic violence.
The CP also advised husbands to seek timely medical and psycho-social support for members of their families exhibiting mental health challenges. (NAN)
NEWS
FRSC Deploys 170 Ambulances Nationwide for Emergency Rescue
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed more than 170 ambulances across the country as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response and rescue operations on Nigerian roads.
The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Osondu Ohaeri, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, while responding to questions on the operational capacity of the corps emergency ambulance network and its response to Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).
Ohaeri said the FRSC had the largest number of ambulances among emergency response agencies in Nigeria, with more than 170 ambulances and 60 Zebra points across the country.
He said the figure should however not be interpreted as the number of ambulances currently operational or serviceable as of September 2026.
According to him, an accurate current figure of serviceable ambulances will require the latest fleet-status report from the corps medical and rescue office.
He explained that the figures demonstrated the scale of the corps emergency response network, while the availability of individual ambulances was managed operationally based on their location, condition and assignment.
On the adequacy of the ambulances for emergency rescue, he said the corps continued to maintain and deploy its assets as part of its emergency response responsibilities, stressing that the status of individual vehicles could vary depending on their operational condition and assignment.
The CPEO said the corps was also focused on improving its emergency response capacity, particularly by strengthening rescue deployment and collaboration with other relevant agencies.
He also said that the corps had historically recorded an average response time of about 15 minutes under its documented emergency-response programme.
He cautioned against presenting the figure as the current nationwide average without updated operational data.
According to him, response time varies depending on several factors including the location of a crash, traffic congestion, distance from the nearest ambulance point and accessibility of the crash scene.
He added that the accuracy and timeliness of information provided by callers could also affect the speed with which rescue teams reached crash scenes.
Other factors he said include the possibility of emergency teams responding to other incidents simultaneously.
Ohaeri stressed that the corps had identified faster response to road traffic crashes and other emergencies as one of its management priorities in 2026.
He said efforts were therefore ongoing to strengthen rescue deployment and inter-agency collaboration to improve emergency response to road crashes.
He added that the FRSC remained committed to improving emergency rescue operations, strengthening the deployment of its resources and working with relevant stakeholders to ensure better outcomes for road crash victims.
He reiterated that complaints concerning emergency response, evacuation, treatment of victims or other forms of alleged misconduct should be channeled through the appropriate authorities for investigation and necessary action.
The CPEO further assured that the corps would continue to strengthen its emergency response mechanisms as part of broader efforts to reduce the consequences of road traffic crashes and improve the safety of road users nationwide.(NAN)
NEWS
NBA Decries Rising Insecurity in Plateau, Urges Urgent Action
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has decried the spate of security challenges currently confronting Plateau and other parts of Nigeria.
The Chairman of Jos Branch of the association, Morgan Dung, said this during a joint news conference on Monday in Jos.
Dung spoke on behalf of the Jos, Bukuru and Pankshin branches of the association.
The chairman particularly decried the recent attacks and killings in Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa, Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Dung, who described the continuous killings of innocent residents as “unfortunate and unacceptable”, called on the Federal Government and the security agencies to tackle the menace.
“The protection of lives and property remain the most fundamental responsibility of government as contained in section 33 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“NBA frowns at the inability of the government to prevent the continuous loss of lives and property in Plateau and beyond.
“We particularly condemn the recent killing of members of community vigilantes at their duty posts in Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos and Bassa LGAs
“We call on the government and security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book. This menace must also stop,”he said.
Dung, however, commended president Bola Tinubu over his recent visit to Plateau and the move to establish State Police in the country.
He further called on the government to sponsor an executive bill to fully domicile security issues under the concurrent legislative list.
Dung urged the government to properly and adequately equip security agencies, strengthen border surveillance and secure all forests serving as hideouts for bandits and other criminal elements.
The chairman also commended Gov. Caleb Mutfwang for revamping Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit and training of 2,000 personnel of the neighbourhoods watch.
He, however, called for the licensing of Operation Rainbow to operate with kinetic facilities, implement the anti-land grabbing law and provide structures for police division and forward operation bases in the state.
Dung advised security agencies to deploy more personnel and equipment to flashpoints in the state, insisting that such a move would ensure prompt response to threats.
The chairman, who called on the judiciary to ensure timely dispensation of terrorism cases, advised governors to sign death warrants of convicted terrorists to serve as a deterrent to others.
He pledged NBA’s readiness to promote access to justice, document evidence of atrocities and pursue public interest litigation to ensure accountability (NAN)


