With Nigeria's diminishing resources and the increasing demand for infrastructural development, the Nigerian Society of Engineers has called for the empowerment of indigenous contractors and engineers for Local Content Development.
Oil and gas magnate and a Special Adviser on Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management to the Edo State Governor, Sarah Ajose-Adeogun, made the call at the Sixth Late Engineer Geoffrey Aiwerioba Public Lecture Series in Benin City.
The sixth Late Engineer Geoffrey Aiwerioba Public Lecture Series organized by the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Benin Branch, attracted leading engineers who gathered in Benin City to eulogize the Late Aiwerioba for his role in mentoring young engineers who are now captains of industries and masters in their various line of practice.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, promised that his administration will continue to support the growth and development of indigenous contractors through the implementation of favorable policies.
The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ferguson Enabulele said: “We can authoritatively assert that the Edo State Indigenous Contractors can now compete and execute construction projects to standard at the sub-national and national level.”
He noted that “as a government, we will continue to support the growth and development of our indigenous contractors through the implementation of favorable policies. Therefore, it is our hope that before we leave office, 80percent of the construction works in our State will be handled by our own indigenous contractors for the total benefit of the citizens of our dear State and it is expected that other governments will emulate the Edo State Tested and Trusted Template.”
In her address the keynote Speaker, Sarah Esangbedo Ajose-Adeogun, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management, said the history of local content acts, policies, and laws in Nigeria is marked by key milestones that aimed to promote indigenous participation and economic growth.
“In 1972, the indigenization policy transferred ownership of foreign businesses to Nigerian entrepreneurs, ensuring greater local control. The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 significantly improved the role of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry, with Nigerian companies executing contracts once held by multinational corporations.
“Additionally, Presidential Executive Order 5, signed in 2018, focused on enhancing local content in public procurement with science, engineering, and technology components, supporting Nigeria’s developmental goals and fostering innovation.
“Since the adoption of the local content act in the country, more and more indigenous companies have been able to execute contracts that were in the past opened to foreign
companies.
“Today, Nigerian companies participate in big ticket contracts in the oil and gas industry. Some of these contracts now executed by Nigerian companies were the exclusive reserve of multinational service companies in the past. As a result of the local content law, Nigerians now occupy strategic positions in oil and gas companies.”
In his own contribution, Engineer Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE) stated that the lecture is apt “as it is coming at a time NSE is keen on the promotion and implementation of the Presidential Executive Order Number 5, for Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, February 2, 2018.”
Chairman of the NSE Benin branch, Engineer Evukowhiroro Ojegba, in his welcome address said empowering indigenous contractors for local content development brings with it a multitude of benefits as it creates employment opportunities for our skilled workforce enabling them to contribute to the nation’s growth and development.