Bayelsa govt. restates readiness to partner youths for devt.

Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government has assured youths of the state’s extraction of its preparedness to partner with them for the development of the state.

Governor Douye Diri, on Tuesday, gave the assurance at  a one-day youth  event organised by the Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB),  in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The governor noted that his administration had made lots of efforts to carry youths of the state along since it came on board .

With the theme: ‘Building a strong synergy with community stakeholders’, Governor Diri, represented by Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, enumerated various youths empowerment programmes the administration  embarked upon  which has also spurred youths to win medals for the state  in several sports  including Chess, Boxing, and other sporting areas.

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While congratulating them for being part of the NCDMB-organised programme which aimed at ensuring their empowerment, Governor Diri assured that “the government is ready to be partners in youths development in the state”.

In his opening remarks, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, noted the importance of youths in the scheme of things pointed out that youths controls the key areas of stakeholders matters.

Represented by Uduah Obot, zonal coordinator, Akw Ibom, Cross River zonal office of NCDMB , Engr. Wabote stated  that the event further showed the regard NCDMB has for the  youths to give vital information for them to take it to the communities to enable them get feedback .

“The event is to enable the youths who are our major stakeholders  to transform our communities , to give feedback and also hear feedback from them next year

“I urge you to hungry for the knowledge, we are hear to gather you to give you information that will change your life and communities” Engr. Wabote said , stressing “what you will take home are things that will stay with you for life.”

Head of Department, Private and  Property Law at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Dr. Pereowei Subai, who presented a paper with the theme: ‘Promoting Healthy, Peaceful Coexistence Between Community and Stakeholders  and the Oil and Gas Industry’, gave  an overview of the oil and gas industry .

Subai said even before the oil and gas industry  was exploited in commercial quantity, a legal  frame work was developed  by the Country and that regulation has vested oil reserves  in the hands of government.

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According to him, the structure of the oil and gas industry is categorised into  three main sectors which included the  regulating  sectors like the NCDB, DPR; the  operators like the SPDC, NDCC NAOC and the likes; and  the Service companies sector  like Saipem, Daewoo, and others local players in that sector .

Subai says Oil and Gas was very important not only to the host communities but also to the entire government  because about 10% of her GDP is being derived  from the oil and gas industry , also about 70% of other revenues  are generated  from there and also 70% is generated from export earnings  and 90% from foreign exchange.

He noted that because of the importance of oil and Gas, if the resources are not properly managed it could lead to conflicts , and to forestall such conflicts government came up with intervention programmes and initiatives  such as the NDCC being put in place to develop the Niger Delta which is an oil producing area..

Dr. Subai also submitted that a 3 per cent trust fund was also created from contract expenditure  required to be dedicated to the development of host communities .

Every company operating in an oil producing community is required to set aside such fund for the development of that community, said the resource person stressing that

the fund is structured in such a way that 70% of it is dedicated for capital projects, 20% for reserves and 5% for the day today administration and running of that fund that is to be put in place .

He added that to ensure a peaceful coexistence among companies, host Communities and government, there must be concerted efforts put in place.

“What is required of the oil  producing companies is for them to  integrate the Communities into the main stream of the oil and gas activities”, he added.

While on the part of the Host Communities, they are required  not to be confrontational to the oil and gas companies so that every one will be taken along as partners in progress, he said, adding that  while government as senior partners in the Joint Venture agreement , they need to support the oil producing communities to allow peace to reign.

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Mazi Sam. Onyechi, President of Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OCTAN) noted in is presentation title: Estimated Skills for Employability  and Enterprise Development, also noted that there were so many skills that were relevant in oil and gas industry for youths to be actively involved  to make their future better.

According to him, most of the skills do not matter whether one is a university graduate or a school certificate holder.

“What the youths  need to do to get any skill required and to identify yourself with the various skills available such as  Welding, Lifting , Roping , and lots of others .

In his presentation , Ubot, the zonal coordinator Akwa/Ibom, Cross River NCDNB, titled Developing Community Participation through Community content guidelines submitted that Community Content Guidelines (CCG) is an amplified set of  guideline drawn from the Nogic  act 2010 to deepen the participation of local communities  in the oil and gas value chain .

He said the extent of community content guidelines is to ensure that host communities are actively involved and engaged by the oil producing companies to work but also be part owners of the oil and gas business.

According to him, one of the key objectives was to ensure that everybody is carried along in the day to day operations of the oil and gas business.

According to him, contrary to some mindsets, local content does not compromise standards.

“It means there must be capacity to deliver on those standards and quality

“Its mandate also includes implementation  and enforcement of the NOGIC act” noted Ubot stressing that host community means where oil, and gas operation takes place”

Highlights at the event issuance of certificates to participants.