NCDMB clarifies contractors on misinformation surrounding presidential directives on local content

The Nigerian Content Development Management board has clarified the misinformation spread by some contractors over the signed presidential directives on local content.

The senior supervisor, projects certification and authorization division, NCDMB, Bashir Ahmed, firmly clarified that the presidential directives were not signed to weaken the vision of the NCDMB as many contractors have assumed.

Ahmed made these clarifications on Monday at the Media stakeholders workshop organised by NCDMB in Port Harcourt.

NatureNews recalls that President Bola Tinubu had signed the presidential directives in March,2024.

The three directives signed are: Presidential directives 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).

Giving details of each of the directives, Ahmed noted to newsmen that the presidential directives will further shorten contracting cycle and improve investment.

He also informed that the presidential directives signed, will further strengthen value of work done by contractors because according to him, the NCDMB is very much interested in the value contractors put in the discharge of their works.

He urge contractors to improve the value of their works in areas like fabrication and engineering capacities instead of peddling false information about the presidential directives.

Ahmed further assured Nigerians that with the presidential directives, there is flexibility in NCDMB regulations.

He added that prior to the presidential directives a lot of contractors prefer selective tenders process but with the signed directives, every contractor now stand a chance of getting contracts only if they follow due process.

Also speaking, the General Manager of the Midstream Division, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, NCDMB, Ms Tassalla Tersugh also added that the Presidential directives are for process improvement.

Speaking on how contracts and projects are monitored during and after execution, she noted that NCDMB always verifies documents in order to monitor all processes.

Tersugh also noted that with the signed directives, NCDMB tender 5 touchdowns have reduced from nine to five, hence encouraging faster contract timelines.

The manager of Corporate Communications, NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi while chairing two panel discussions, he urged journalists to be actively informed about the activities ongoing in NCDMB.

He also urged journalists to improve on their reporting skills by embracing and infusing the dynamic changes of technology in the profession.

The workshop featured panel discussions and paper presentations by key members of the NCDMB and veteran journalists.