PTDF assumes sole training institution for local manpower in oil sector

*How new NCDMB Chief emerged

The Federal Government has barred indiscriminate training programmes for local manpower for the oil and gas sector of the economy.

Speaking recently when he paid a scheduled visit to the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in Yenegoa, Bayelsa state, the Minsiter of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu said going forward, only the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) would be given the sole mandate of training Nigerians and local players in the oil and gas industry.

He explained that the NCDMB should henceforth restrict itself to the creating of conducive environment as well as monitoring the compliance level of local content in project execution of contracts in the sector.

The Guardian gathered that the Minister further directed the Board to focus on its supply chain development (development of service companies) and allow PTDF execute the direct intervention trainings.

Meanwhile, the appointment of erstwhile General Manager, Business and Government Relations of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited, Simbi, Kesiye Wabote, has been bandied around for the top job since 2010 when the NCDMB law was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Indeed, Ernest Nwapa, who was at the time the Group General Manager, Nigerian Content at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Wabote were in the running for the job before Nwapa emerged the prefered one by the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was the Chairman of the NNPC Board.

Before becoming the General Manager, Business and Government Relation at Shell, Wabote served as the Local Content Manager, Shell C&P Global and had the responsibility to develop Local Content Strategy for Royal Dutch Shell (RDS) Upstream, and Downstream operation in addition to ensuring implementation for business outcomes.