The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has charged media stakeholders specially those in energy media to deploy their expertise and tools to boost the nation’s drive towards a gas economy. This clarion call is in reiteration of the Board’s commitment to broader domestic gas utilisation and in deepening of Nigerian content implementation in the energy sector.

At a one-day capacity building workshop it organised recently for media practitioners based in Bayelsa and Rivers State themed “Enhancing Media Competencies to Support Nigerian Content in a Gas Economy,” the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Dr. Ginah O. Ginah commended media practitioners for their supportive role in promoting programmes and projects of the Board, noting that the new phase of the Board’s pursuits demands upgrade of skills, hence the workshop.

He recalled that the media workshop of 2021 achieved the desired result as the views of the Board on energy transition were widely publicised and have become the general standpoint in the industry. He explained that for 2022, what is of critical importance is “what the gas economy would be in the next decade,” pointing out the diverse benefits of gas to the economy, which includes food sufficiency, industrialization, increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and electric power sufficiency.

He confirmed that the Board had partnered with 15 firms to set up projects covering modular refining, gas processing, gas distribution, power generation, manufacturing and others and 70 percent of the investments are on gas-based activities, especially midstream and downstream gas.

He said NCDMB has taken deliberate steps to actualise the Federal Government’s focus on gas through partnerships with credible investors in projects that would deepen penetration of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas, and compressed natural gas (CNG) penetration.

He listed the Board’s gas-based projects to include the type 3 LPG Composite Cylinder Manufacturing Plant in Polaku, Bayelsa State and at Alaro City, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, both owned by Rungas Prime Industries Limited.

Other projects include the NEDO Gas Processing Company in Kwale, Delta State, the Duport Midstream’s Energy Park at Egbokor, Edo State and the 10,000 tonnes per day Methanol Production plant at Odioama, Brass, Bayelsa State, being established in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company.

He listed other partnership projects to include Triansel Gas Limited in Koko, Delta State, which is working to establish a 5,000 Metric Tons per day LPG Storage and Loading Terminal Facility, as well as Butane Energy Limited, which is establishing LPG Bottling Plants and Depots in Abuja and 10 Northern States.

Others are the investments with MOB Integrated Services for the construction of the 500 Million Tons Inland LPG terminal in Dikko, Niger State, the partnership with Southfield Petroleum to establish 200 million metric standard cubic feet of gas processing plant at Utorogu, Delta State and the collaboration with Amal Technologies to set up a plant in Abuja to produce Smart Gas/Smoke Detector Alarm devices.

The General Manager charged the media to support further investments in gas and give adequate coverage to activities in the gas subsector and the economic potential with a view to attracting more investments.

The Manager Corporate Communications, Barr Esueme Dan Kikile underscored the importance of public engagement, media, and communication in Nigerian Content implementation, adding that NCDMB carries out robust engagements with diverse stakeholders in different sectors across the country.

He stated that the support of the media contributed to the achievement 54 percent Nigerian Content in 2022, which was announced by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote at the Practical Nigerian Content Workshop held recently at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

A resource person and a faculty member with the Pan Atlantic University, Mr. Chido Nwakanma reinforced the challenge to the media, stating, “we have to tell the story of oil and gas and of local content better than we have been doing.” He encouraged media practitioners to go beyond mere reporting of statistics and begin to focus on how the industry impacts on the populace. He charged journalists who are based in the Bayelsa and Rivers State to become authorities in oil and gas reporting. He also advised the journalists to practise solutions journalism, which highlights the issues in the society and focusses on how members of the society are organising themselves to find solutions to the problems. Giving the concluding remarks, the Chief Supervisor, Media Publicity NCDMB, Mr. Obinna Ezeobi, explained that the workshop is aimed at setting agenda for the media. He encouraged the practitioners to apply the knowledge they garnered from the workshop in improving the quality of their reportage.