By JOY MBACHI

Dr Law Mefor, Anambra Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the state benefited fully from the nation’s oil and gas-related programmes and initiative.

He said it was unfortunate that as an oil producing state Anambra was yet to be fully integrated into the nation’s oil and gas master plan.

The commissioner said this in Awka on Thursday while declaring open one-day workshop on “Nigerian Content capacity building workshop for media stakeholders.

The event was organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Mefor commended the organisers for bringing the workshop to Anambra.

He said that Nigeria has the human capacity to effectively manage its oil and gas resources.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Felix Ogbe, said the workshop was part of the inclusivity drive by the federal government for the industry.

Ogbe, who was represented by Mr Omomehin Ajimijaye, Director Planning, Research and Statistics, urged the media to properly educate communities on the importance of participating in the board’s initiatives.

The General Manager, (GM) Corporate Communications, NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, urged the media to raise awareness on opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

He also urged them to hold operators in the industry accountable, particularly in the area of compliance with local content requirements.

Ezeobi advocated improved reportage of Nigerian content issues to enable more locals and businesses in Anambra to participate actively in the oil and gas value chain.

He said the media had a critical role to play in advancing the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

He said they could do this by informing the public about industry opportunities, explaining government interventions and monitoring compliance with relevant laws.

He urged newsmen to use their positions as agenda-setters and gatekeepers to draw attention to issues affecting the industry, highlight opportunities available to Nigerian businesses and professionals.

He further urged them to ensure that oil and gas operators met their local content obligations.

According to him, the workshop was designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of the Nigerian Content framework.

He said it was also meant to improve the quality of their reportage and strengthen collaboration between the board and media organisations in Anambra.

He described Anambra as an important location for the engagement, noting that the state was recognised as an oil-producing state and ranked the second-highest oil producer in the South-East.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it is estimated that Anambra produces 3,000 barrels per day.

The GM, urged newsmen to carefully study and understand the local content law and NCDMB’s programmes.

He said this would enable them to properly inform the people about opportunities for businesses, professionals and communities.

The NCDMB spokesman recalled that since the enactment of the NOGICD Act and the establishment of the Board in 2010, the agency had recognised the media as a critical partner in implementing the Nigerian content policy.

On the significance of Nigerian content to national development, Ezeobi said the policy was aimed at building local human and material capacities, strengthen indigenous businesses, developing technical expertise and expand Nigeria’s industrial base.

He explained that the policy sought to ensure that more goods and services required by the oil and gas industry were supplied by competent Nigerian businesses.

He said it also targeted that Nigerian professionals acquired and applied the technical skills needed to compete effectively.

He added that strengthening local manufacturing and productive capacity would help retain greater value within the Nigerian economy and create more opportunities for domestic businesses.

He urged participants to engage actively in the discussions, ask questions, challenge assumptions and share their experiences to ensure that the workshop achieved its objectives. (NAN)