…President Buhari says Nigerian content necessitates empowerment of citizens
A seventeen-story building, named Nigerian Content Tower has been commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The tower which is a project of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), located in Bayelsa State to function as its headquarters was virtually launched on Thursday.
President Buhari described the commissioning of the tower as “historic moment” while delivering his speech through Zoom from the State House in Abuja.
“I am pleased that the project has been delivered by local contractors, supported by local engineers and project consultants. We must all be proud that we finished what we started,” the President stated.
He then instructed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, to physically commission the building on his behalf, as Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, also delivered a speech at the commissioning.
Among prominent public leaders virtually present at the occasion are Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
The NCDMB building is furnished with 10-Megawatt gas-fired power plant and a 1,000 seater conference hall.
Also President Buhari commissioned the power plant which, according to the NCDMB, was constructed in collaboration with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act is used to establish the NCDMB and came to existence on April 22, 2010.
The President while delivering his speech on Thursday asserted that the NCDMB building was an indication for the significance of local content in Nigeria.
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‘‘With the commissioning of this project, I want to highlight that we have put in place a landmark of reference in the Niger Delta to reflect long-lasting legacies that signpost the years of oil and gas exploitation and I assure you that there is more to come,’’ Buhari said.
‘‘This commissioning brings to the fore the importance of local content in all activities of our national life, especially with the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.”
The President reiterated that production and patronage of Nigeria-made goods and services remains of the definite means to empower the citizens.
‘‘That is why two of the Executive Orders issued under our government are related to enforcing local content in public procurement and contracts to further replicate the successes being realized in the oil and gas industry.
‘‘Local Content and Self Reliance are key principles of the recently approved 2.3 trillion Naira National Economic Sustainability Plan. The plan is aimed at the promotion of local production, local services, local innovation, and the use of local materials,” he added.
