PHCCIMA, Shell, Total, Agip Set To Organize Free Local Content Summit In PH
In a bid to complement the effort of government in enlightening the public and major indigenous players in the oil and gas industry about the Nigerian Local Content Act, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and agriculture, PHCCIMA shall be organizing a two day 'Free Grassroot Nigeria Content Summit/Exhibition' with the theme: “Leveraging on the Nigerian Content Development Act For Industrial Revolution”.
The conference aimed at increasing indigenous participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, will hold on November 27th and 28th 2013 at the Atlantic hall of Hotel Presidential.
Larry Azubuike, the Director of Local Content, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce made this known during the stakeholders meeting between PHCCIMA, SPDC, Total E&P, NAOC, RSSDA,NDDC among others held at the chamber office in Port Harcourt.
He said the event which is another avenue to encourage indigenous expertise and material utilization in the oil and gas industry and another way of proactively working towards sustainable benefit and development of community content.
Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce President, Engr. Emeka Unachukwu while speaking to PHCCIMA media stressed that the conference has become imperative considering that only 10% compliance has been achieved so far since the Act was signed into law on 22nd April 2010.
More worrisome according to Unachukwu was the huge participation fees placed on local content seminars which virtually makes it impossible for the target indigenous companies to attend and benefit. 'The obvious fact is that we actually lack capacities and can't even bid for certain jobs within the oil and gas industry, that already is pathetic; but regrettably seminars which ordinarily should form the basis of enlightening the people on the ideals of the local content policy have their participation or registration fees skyrocketed to as much $2,500 dollars making it impossible for the target audience to attend” he said. He said, “this is the reason why we are putting together this conference for Free in collaboration with some major IOC's to train and enlighten Nigerians on how to benefit from the local content policy and help stop capital flight” he said.
The PHCCIMA helmsman however commended Nigerian Content development Monitoring Board, NCDMB for taking further steps to give effects to the intent of the Nigerian Content Development Act, but however admitted some challenges with both the NCDA and some of the Regulations made pursuant to the Act.