Group photograph of stakeholders at the programme on Tuesday
By Samuel Ogude
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has unveiled Nigeria Content Fund Compliance Certificate Portal. This was made known at the sensitization programme held on Tuesday which took place at The Monarchy Epic Arena, Effurun Sapele Warri Road,Delta State.
In his brief speech in the programme which the organization held in partnership with the Bank of Industry, the Director of Finance and Personnel Management of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Ossa Uchendu who was represented by Manager, Finance and Account, Desmond Awumade said, the unveiling of the portal is a bold step towards efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
According to him, the unveiling is not just about technology but about aligning with the national vision for ease of doing business, digital transformation, and accountability, as reinforced by recent Executive Orders of the Federal Government. His words:” The Nigerian Content Fund Compliance Certificate is a vital requirement in our industry. By law, contractors and operators must remit one percent of the value of every upstream contract into the Nigerian Content Development Fund.”
The Panel of discussants at programme on Tuesday
According to him, the certificate is a proof of compliance which is a key that can unlock access to the fund and assurance that obligations are being met in line with national development goals. His words: “Over the years, the fund has been transformative. Nigerian Content has risen to over 60 percent, meaning, more value, jobs, and expertise now reside within our country. More than $400 million has supported over 130 indigenous companies, addressing the critical challenge of access to finance.”
He said, strategic initiatives like Project 100 have strengthened local capacity, while innovative financing tools which include a $100 Million equity investment scheme ensures sustainability. According to him, as the progress expands, the organization systems must evolve adding that, in the past, compliance confirmation was handled manually as companies that submitted physical documents, waited for verification, and endured delays that often stretched into weeks which was not in the interest of the organization and the people.
The Unveiling of the Portal on Tuesday
His words:” This slowed project approvals, created uncertainty ,and limited transparency for regulators and investors. That is why today matters. With the launch of this portal, compliance becomes faster, simpler, and more transparent.” According to him, the portal is aimed at cutting certificate processing time from weeks to days, allowing online applications without physical visits or paperwork, providing instant status updates, eliminating uncertainty that enables regulators to verify compliance in real time and creating a single digital record that investors and lenders can trust.
He said, by digitizing the process, the portal enhances access to the fund adding that, companies that meet obligations would now be able to obtain certificates quickly, unlock financing opportunities without delay, and channel resources into projects that create jobs, build capacity, and strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain. According to him, the portal would help operators and contractors to have faster access to funding while regulators would have stronger oversight and better data just he said, it would increase investors’ confidence in the system.
Some of the participants of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board sensitization programme on Tuesday
His words: “And for Nigeria, a more efficient system that ensures the fund continues to drive measurable impact .this portal is more than a digital tool. It is a commitment to innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. It reflects the forward -thinking approach of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, recognizing that the future of regulation is not just enforcement, but enablement.”
He said, the opening of the portal is to let the people know that, the country, Nigeria is ready as the organization systems are evolving as country’s oil and gas industry is becoming more efficient, transparent, and competitive on the global stage and he therefore encouraged all stakeholders to embrace this platform, because its success depends not just on its design, but its collective adoption and engagement.
The highlight of the occasion was discussion, questions and answers by the panel of discussants which was made up of Jefferson Tuantongha( GM, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate), Engr.Bashir Ahmed (Supervisor,Projects Certification and Authorization Directorate), Engr. Mustapha Abdullahi( Supervisor, Capacity Building Director), Mohammed Z.Awani ( Head Specialised Business- NEXIM), Gabriel Yemidale, Group Head Oil and Gas Group- BOI) and Akintoide James, Head Midstream and Dealers- FCMB) which was moderated by Steve Bawa, CEO, S.B. Capital, discussed way forward for Nigeria to grow economically.
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