By David Owei

Elders and people of the Olugboboro community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsà State have kicked against the alleged wrongful and strange directive from some members of management staff of OandO PLC stopping the ongoing reclamation project in the area.

According to the community, they were shocked and in disbelief over the recent directive by officials of Oando Plc ordering the contractor handling Olugboboro’s community reclamation project to stop work immediately being executed for the community.

The Elders of the Olugboboro Community led by Chief Ebimobowei Kenbo ( Ikpesiwari ), Chief Mathew Azeke (Akpokowari ), Chief Ayibaini Oweifighe (Compound Chief), Chief Layo Tarighebo (Compound Chief), Mr. Napoleon Azeke (General Secretary),Mr. Timiundumene Usen (Youth President) and Andrew Vincent (BOT Member), in a letter to the Chairman, BOT SILGA 1 Host Communities Development Trust, expressed displeasure over the directive ordering the contractor handling Olugboboro’s community reclamation project to stop work immediately being executed by Oando SILGA. 1. HCDT in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State.

In the letter, the Olugboboro community attributed their displeasure to “the verbal message received by the contractor undertaking Olugboboro community reclamation project OGBODAWEI Nig Ltd. from the chairman of the board Mr. Profit Toyain that unnamed officials from Oando Plc, (settlor) directed him to inform the contractor to stop work immediately on the project; on the grounds that Olugboboro community sand filling project is not viable”.

“It will be pertinent to intimate you that Olugboboro community reclamation project went through all processes; before contract was awarded and consequent commencement of work by the contractor. Perhaps, a little explanation of the initial journey of the sand filling project would be necessary.”

“A need assessment of Olugboboro community was carried out by the precursor to Oando Plc, Agip in all host communities years ago. Wherein sand filling of the community’s back was identified as number priority project for Olugboboro community.”

“Also during the era of GMOU, the community submitted reclamation of the back to the Board but unfortunately; the GMOU did not take off and was subsequently replaced by the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021. 2 ”

“When the PIA Act eventually took off, another need assessment was conducted in Olugboboro community: sand filling was considered the most important and pressing project the community highlighted.”

“It was carried out in conjunction with officials of Agip. When Oando SILGA.1. HCDT, began operation, all the host communities were required to submit priority projects to Oando SILGA.1. HCDT. Olugboboro community submitted five projects in order of preference or ranking order.”

“Again, reclamation of the back was ranked number one Project due to its overwhelming importance and transformational pull on the community. The settlor was duly informed. As a result, sand filling was approved as the first project.”

“Consequently, scoping was done to determine the viability of the project by officials of Oando, SILGA.1. HCDT. The report of the findings was submitted to the settlor and it was duly approved. The next stage was the contract award process.”

” Again, the settlor approved the process for the contract award. An open bidding process was conducted in May 2026, and the contract was awarded to OGBODAWEI Nig Ltd. Thereafter, an award letter was issued to the contractor on 29
th May, 2026.”

” Furthermore, on 11
th June, 2026 SILGA.1. HCDT led by the Project Manager went to Olugboboro community to formally handover the project site to the contractor to commence work. As expected, the contractor mobilized funds, resources and equipment and moved to site on 17
th June, 2026.”

“The contractor had already completed the first milestone; excavation of the soil has been successfully completed; when the settlor suddenly directed the chairman of the Board to intimate the contractor to stop work. In effect cancelling the project for no reason whatsoever.”

“The settlor cited flimsy, illogical and irrational reasons for cancelling the project; that reclamation project in a riverine community such as Olugboboro is not viable. We wish to inform you that most host communities in SILGA .1. HCDT have either completed their projects or nearing completion but Olugboboro’s project was unnecessarily delayed due to the antics of the settlor. Because the community had insisted that they did not need any other project; except reclamation of the back of the community.”

” Consequently, the scope of the project was watered down to accommodate the available funds; initial size of the project was 500m by 100m, but has been scaled down to 100m by 50m. 3. We would like to intimate you that the Olugboboro Community Environmental Improvement (Reclamation) project is a strategic intervention designed to address the persistent environmental and developmental challenges confronting the community.”

” Since the day the community was founded, it has been exposed to perennial flooding; resulting in the destruction of homes, loss of valuable land, disruption of livelihoods, displacements and constraints on physical and economic development.”

“Therefore, the project is not merely a capital project but a strategic environmental restoration initiative that underpins the community long-term developmental goals and aspirations.”

” In addition, the people of Olugboboro Community conceived the sand filling project as a multi-pronged approach to solving challenging environmental hiccups, as well as a sustainable engineering solution to improve drainage, reclaim land, reduce flood risks and create an enabling environment for future physical and socio- economic development of Olugboboro Community.”

“Consequently, we hereby wish to stress that the long-term economic benefits to be derived from this project are expected to exceed many conventional infrastructural projects; it creates the physical space upon which future development depends. Indeed, the project is a catalyst for sustainable development rather than simply a sand filling exercise.”

” In addition, the project aligns with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, Act 2021. The Act established Host Community Development Trust framework to promote sustainable development, environmental stewardship and socio-economic advancement in host communities.”

According to the community leadership, “The Olugboboro reclamation project directly advances these objectives by: addressing long-standing environmental challenges facing the community; such as improving community infrastructure, enhancing environmental sustainability, promoting economic empowerment.”

” It also supports, inclusive and sustainable development. Ultimately, to improve the quality of life of host communities. We wish to assert that, the project represents an exemplary implementation of the intent and objectives of the PIA Act 2021. Indeed, it was a huge relief when the contractor mobilized to site and began work 4 in earnest.”

” It was a dream realized; because it has been the greatest environmental challenges the people have endured since the day the community was founded. We had hoped that the dream of developing the community has finally arrived; finally, nature has been conquered through the sand filling project. We were sure, that our forefathers were smiling and celebrating in their graves when the project began.”

” Suddenly, the settlor decided to put spanner into the work: dashing the hopes of the community. The big questions that, the people of Olugboboro Community have been trying to answer are; how did the settlor conceive the concept of viable project and how did they arrive at viability of a project? Why is viability of project only confined to Olugboboro project? Why singled out Olugboboro project for such a sordid treatment? For a project that is so dear to the people’s heart.”

” A legacy project, that is the bedrock of Olugboboro Community’s modern development agenda. It is indeed, paradoxical and absurd for the settlor that has been operating in Olugboboro community for over fifty years (Agip and Oando Plc) to claim that sand filling the back of the community is not viable. A project that is consciously designed to usher in a paradigm shift in physical development index of the community.”

“The community’s future development plans largely depend on the successful execution of this project; making it an essential investment rather than option. We state hereby that Olugboboro Community do not want any other project apart from the reclamation that has already commenced.”

“This is our cherished and legacy project; until this project is successfully completed, we will not accept any other project in Olugboboro community. The order to stop work was conceived in bad taste; intended to truncate the match of progress and the people quest to overcome their challenging environment.”

“The directive to stop work, for a job that has already commenced and progressing accordingly offends common sense, sensibility of the people and ethos of corporate social responsibility. Indeed, the directive to stop work and terminate the project was part of a broader pattern to undo Olugboboro physical development.”

” Based on this development, the community’s trust and integrity of the settlor has been severely compromised and shaken. The order to cancel the project is obviously, an invitation to crisis and a fragrant breach of the PIA Act 2021; which requires host communities to choose projects according to their needs.”

“The order to stop is also clearly a breach of contract between SILGA 1 HCDT. and the contractor, (OGBODAWEI Nig Ltd) The community did not complain that contractor was having an issue or not performing. Why would Olugboboro Community case be different from others.”

“We have it on record that the settlor has not directed any contractor to stop work in any of 21 host communities in SILGA. 1.HCDT. This again has brought into sharp focus the distain and levity the settlor has treated any matter concerning Olugboboro Community. We have been treated unfairly and urge you stop maltreatment of Olugboboro Community in the scheme of things and what rightly belongs to the community.”

“In view of the above, we reject and condemn in strong terms the settlor directive ordering the contractor to stop work. The settlor is trying to draw back the hand of the clock; in effect retarding the anticipated physical development of the community on the successful execution of the project. We therefore, urge you to wade into the matter, direct Oando to order.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will on Monday, July 27, 2026, officially launch the Nigerian Content Trainers’ Registration Certificate (NCTRC), marking a significant milestone in the Board’s efforts to strengthen quality assurance and standardisation in human capacity development across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The platform will be live on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC-JQS) portal.

The NCTRC is a digital verification and certification platform developed by the NCDMB to assess, inspect, verify, and rate training service providers operating within the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The initiative gives effect to the Regulation for Training in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry, issued to the oil and gas industry in February 2021, which mandates the Board to prescribe minimum standards, facilities, and technology for the training and development of personnel in the industry.

The Regulation further mandates that the Board establish a verification process for routine inspections, assessments, and ratings of training programmes, facilities, service delivery, and performance. It also requires the Board to verify all information on training provided by operators and training providers on the NOGIC-JQS portal.

Developed by the Directorate of Capacity Building through its Infrastructural Development Division, the NCTRC provides a transparent and standardised framework for evaluating training providers based on the quality of their facilities, faculty, equipment, accreditations, operational capabilities, and previous training experience.

The certification covers eleven specialised Areas of Training Specialization (ATS), including Health, Safety and Environment; Engineering and Quality Assurance; Petroleum and Geosciences; Drilling, Production Operations and Oil and Gas Processing; Facilities Design and Construction; Project Management; Supply Chain Management; Asset Management and Maintenance; Information and Communication Technology; Entrepreneurship, Soft Skills and Oil and Gas Business; and Maritime, Nautical Studies and Offshore Logistics.

Training service providers seeking certification will be assessed against clearly defined criteria, including training facilities, qualified instructors, relevant accreditations, equipment, previous training experience, and on-the-job training capability. Approved organisations will be classified into five categories based on their demonstrated capacity and capability, while successful certificates will remain valid for two years.

The introduction of the NCTRC will strengthen confidence in training service providers by ensuring that only organisationswith the requisite facilities, personnel, and technical capacity are certified to deliver training within the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The initiative will also improve the quality, credibility, and standardisation of industry training programmes while supporting the development of a competent Nigerian workforce.

As part of the certification process, applicants will be required to submit verifiable information relating to their facilities, instructors, accreditations, equipment, previous training experience, and operational capacity. The Board will conduct documentary reviews and,

where necessary, physical or virtual facility inspections to validate all claims before certification is granted.

NCDMB wishes to remind all prospective applicants that the application, processing, and approval of the Nigerian Content Trainers’ Registration Certificate are completely free of charge. In line with the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance, the Board does not recognise the use of consultants, agents, or other third parties for NCTRC applications. All applications must be submitted directly by registered companies through their NOGIC-JQS accounts.

The Board also cautions that the submission of forged or falsified documents constitutes a criminal offence and may result in administrative sanctions, cancellation of certificates, and prosecution under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, the Criminal Code Act, and other applicable laws.

Training service providers and other industry stakeholders are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the NCTRC Application Guidance Notes and commence applications through the NOGIC-JQS portal from Monday, July 27, 2026.

The launch of the NCTRC reinforces NCDMB’s commitment to building a globally competitive Nigerian workforce by ensuring that training delivered within the oil and gas industry meets established standards of quality, competence, and excellence, in line with the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

By David Owei

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday, joined former President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders, to reflect on the cost and benefits of oil exploration in the Niger Delta with a call on stakeholders to chart a better future for the region.

The leaders spoke at the opening of the 2026 Sweet Crude Dialogue held at the Conference Centre of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Towers in Yenagoa.

The Sweet Crude Dialogue, themed “Through the Python’s Eye: 70 Years of Oil and Gas Production in Nigeria,” brought together industry players, the academia and top government functionaries.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi said the Chief Host, Senator Douye Diri represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, decried the level of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta and called on well-meaning organizations to work towards achieving justice for the region.

Quoting the report of the defunct Archbishop John Sentamu-led Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission, the Governor said about 13 million barrels of crude were spilled in the region between 1958, when Nigeria made her first shipment of crude, and 2010.

Describing the Commission’s findings as “sobering,” he said the Chairman described what had happened to the state as “nothing short of an environmental genocide.”

The Governor therefore urged De Mangrove Conversations and other environmental advocacy groups to collaborate with government to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission.

His words “The State Government has embraced the Commission’s findings, and the Governor has asked me to reaffirm, in the clearest terms, this administration’s commitment to environmental justice, the remediation of our lands and waters, the restoration of livelihoods, and a just energy transition in which the communities that bore the burdens of the oil age are not abandoned at its close.

“A report of such weight must not remain on the shelf, and government cannot carry this responsibility alone.

“The Bayelsa State Government, therefore, calls on De Mangrove Conversations and all environmental advocacy organizations, especially those working across the Niger Delta, to align their efforts with the implementation of the recommendations of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission.”

In his remarks as Chairman of the occasion, former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan said Nigeria could only make appreciable progress in the oil industry if most of the requirements for oil production were sourced locally.

He noted that mere export of crude oil would not lead to economic diversification or sufficient job creation.

“If we cannot develop or produce some of these things used in the oil industry within the country, we will not achieve anything significant in the oil industry. It is not just about selling of the crude oil.

“Yes, we earn money from that but that does not diversify the economy and create enough jobs. What will diversify your economy is the industrial aspects of the operations of the oil industry.

“That’s why I am happy with the local content board law my administration enacted in 2010 and the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021. With these two pieces of legislation and if they are followed to the letter with amendments where necessary, I believe things will be much better,” Jonathan said.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor of Comparative Petroleum and International Law and Policy, Prof. Ibibia Worika, said 70 years of oil production had generated unprecedented wealth for Nigeria but also exposed structural weaknesses in governance.

Prof. Worika added that the Niger Delta, which bears the brunt of oil production, has little to show for its contribution, stressing that environmental justice for the region is “a constitutional, moral and developmental imperative.

According to him, “instead of serving as a catalyst for economic diversification, petroleum gradually replaced agriculture, weakened manufacturing and encouraged dependency on resource rent.

“The Niger Delta has always borne the burden of oil production. The tragedy of the Niger Delta reminds us that development cannot be measured by revenue generation alone. And that development must necessarily improve the wellbeing of the people as well as protect the environment,” he said.

The Governor of Delta State, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo, was among those who delivered goodwill messages at the two-day event.

The Dialogue also featured a plenary session with panelists including the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, represented by Pastor James Oworibo; National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Dr. Godknows Igali, represented by Prof. Stephen Olali; Vice Chancellor of Bayelsa Medical University, Prof. Dimie Ogoina; Prof. Ibaba Samuel Ibaba of Niger Delta University; and Managing Director of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Ogbe, represented by Barr. Esueme Kikile.

The session was moderated by a Professor of Nuclear Engineering and former Director General of Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Franklin Osaisai.