Offshore staff
ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria has established a framework for increasing local content. Joe Akande of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. explained at the Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition on March 20 how the country's Nigerian Content Division (NCD) is working toward increased local content.
Akande identified the three components that drive the country's efforts toward increased local content: planning, capacity building and monitoring. He also explained that industry demand and industry suppliers can come together through the NCD to achieve local content goals. "We can work together in a constructive manner," he said.
According to Akande, a collaborative strategy is essential for success. "We have to collaborate with stakeholders," he said. "We must work together."
Akande enumerated five components that are essential to the cooperative effort: shared vision, shared commitment, open and frequent dialogue, responsibility and accountability, and communication. "Meetings, meetings, meetings!" Akande said, are the foundation for success.
The NCD has made progress, Akande said, pointing to the upgraded fabrication yards in Nigeria, welder training initiatives, and capacity building as examples.
Akande said there were no international engineering companies or deepwater facilities in Nigeria in 2004. He credits the NCD with helping to bring two engineering companies to Nigeria and with moving two deepwater facilities construction projects forward.
Moving businesses into Nigeria is important for the country, Akande said. "We are tired of buying and buying and buying."
The solution, Akande said, is for Nigerians to actively pursue the national goals. "Everybody has to work together. It's everybody's job," he said.
3/20/2007
