By John Ikani
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote has stated that the Petroleum Industry Act, (PIA) will address youth restiveness and vandalism in oil-producing communities.
Engr. Wabote made the assertion on Wednesday when he appeared on Arise News’ Global Business Report to talk about security in the Oil and Gas industry and how it affects local content development in the country.
According to the NCDMB boss, restiveness and vandalism of Oil and Gas facilities are big challenges that increase the cost of doing business in the energy industry and its linkage sectors.
He however noted that the activities of vandals have significantly reduced compared to previous years when militancy and other forms of restiveness reigned supreme.
“Vandalism is one of the effects of restiveness which negatively impacts local content because it brings about investment challenges and increases the cost of doing business.
“it’s concerning. It affects local content because if there are no activities in the oil and gas sector, there will be no local content. So it’s a big challenge that should be contained whenever it rears its ugly head.
“To be fair, vandalism has tremendously been reduced compared to previous years when militancy was a trend in the Niger Delta. But again, there are still pockets of such restiveness,” he said.
Commenting on how the PIA will help improve security in oil-producing states as well as curb vandalism and restiveness in the region, Engr. Wabote said: “The act provides for the establishment of Community Trust Fund which when becomes operational would adress restiveness within oil-producing communities.
“The community trust fund will be an enabler if its implementation is driven by the right people”.
Speaking on the recent courtesy visit of a delegation of the Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh, led by its Commander, Commodore Sunday Daniel Atakpa to the NCDMB’s Head Office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Engr Wabote explained that it was aimed at fostering collaboration between the Board and the Navy.
According to him: “We talked about maritime security in the area beyond Bayelsa. We also talked about the security of our staff. NNS Soroh is domiciled here in Bayelsa State providing us maritime security anytime we go about activities in Bayelsa. That was extensively discussed during the meetings”.
