By Teddy Nwanunobi
The leadership of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has described as untrue the alleged pressures being mounted on the Board by some stakeholders of the oil and gas industry to relocate its headquarters from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to Abuja.
The rumour, which was contained in some national dailies and online news platforms, was coming on the heels of sustained protests by some Bayelsa youths, who claimed to be having misunderstanding with the Board concerning training.
“The position of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act establishing our agency is clear and unambiguous about where our head office should be”
A statement signed by the NCDMB’s General Manager Corporate Communication/Zonal Coordinator, Engr. Ginah O. Ginah, the Board noted that there had been unwarranted and disruptive protests and disturbances at the 17-Storey Nigerian Content Tower, the Board’s head office.
“The Board said that the management of NCDMB recognises that individuals and groups have the right to express their feelings and genuine grievances in civil and responsible manners.
“The issue (does) not constitute sufficient grounds to contemplate or yield to any call to relocate the Headquarters of the Board, considering that the people of the Niger Delta region have consistently demanded for oil producing companies to relocate their headquarters to the region.
“The position of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act establishing our agency is clear and unambiguous about where our head office should be. The Board will abide by the express stipulations of the Act.
“The Board, therefore, distances itself from any call or purported call for relocation.
“Stakeholder are therefore reassured that the Board will do everything lawful and expedient within its powers to engender healthy (relationships) with our host communities and work progressively to ensure that the avoidable spate of disturbances are brought under control,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government has accused the leadership of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) of extorting N7,000 each from about 1,000 Bayelsa youths under the pretense of presenting them to the NCDMB for training.