By John Ikani
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has urged the oil and gas industry in Nigeria to adopt and leverage the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the 4th Nigerian Oil and Gas Forum (NOGOF), NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Simbi Wabote, stressed that instead of fighting technological disruption, industry players, especially those in Nigeria, should embrace it.
According to him, “AI is an opportunity. As AI is coming, people are learning about the opportunities it will offer. When I visited Total in France, they showed me a picture of what the future of FPSO will look like.”
“Today, you have about 150 people managing FPSO but they showed me a future of FPSO where there will be nobody onboard and it will be operated from anywhere. That is the future but also an opportunity.
“There will be an industry that will build the technology that is associated with the FPSO. I am not afraid of AI,” Wabote said.
To prepare for the emerging possibilities, Engr. Wabote said that the NCDMB was already planning for the future and that the fourth edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in 2023 would explore these opportunities in the oil and gas industry, linkage sectors and the entire African continent.
The local content chieftain explained that NOGOF 2023’s ideas are aligned with the key objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 (NOGICD) Act, which mandates the NCDMB to support the development of local capacities and capabilities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, foster institutional collaboration, maximize the participation of Nigerians in oil and gas activities, link the oil and gas sector to other sectors of the economy, and maximize the utilization of Nigerian resources, among other objectives.
He highlighted that previous editions of NOGOF have made a tremendous impact on the Nigerian oil and gas industry, with the ongoing Nigeria LNG Train 7 project being a visible example of the benefits.
The project’s success is due in part to the opportunities showcased at the 2019 edition of NOGOF, enabling Nigerian vendors to prepare themselves adequately.
Engr. Wabote confirmed that 50 percent of the entire $5bn project scope is currently being executed in-country by indigenous companies.
With the expansion of 2023 NOGOF to linkage sectors and countries, the Executive Secretary explained that the oil and gas industry has the potential to catalyze industrialization and promote economic growth across sectors, not just in Nigeria but across the continent.
He called for the exploration of opportunities in other African countries, urging them to take advantage of capacities in Nigeria and other sister African countries.
On her part, NOGOF project consultant, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, applauded the NCDMB for the democratization of access to participation, the development of the industry, and the shared prosperity that comes with the initiatives.
She said with the incorporation of the linkage industry and the reach beyond Nigeria to other African countries, there are higher stakes to ensure collaboration and success.
