…As Lokpobiri, Others Task Participants on Effective Partnerships

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has once again called on the National Assembly to review the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to allow state governments in oil-producing areas play statutory roles in overseeing development projects in host communities.

Speaking through his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the 2025 edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunities Fair (NOGOF), held at the Local Content Towers in Yenagoa, Diri emphasized the need for reform in the PIA to ensure better management of oil revenues at the community level.

He noted that although the PIA empowers host communities to directly receive oil proceeds, the burden of resolving disputes arising from fund mismanagement often falls on state governments.

“The current PIA does not assign responsibilities to state governments, only liabilities,” he said. “When International Oil Companies (IOCs) bypass the state and engage directly with communities—many of which lack the capacity to manage such investments—it breeds conflict.”

Diri urged the National Assembly to amend the Act to grant host state governments statutory roles in overseeing oil and gas projects. He also criticized IOCs and indigenous oil firms for excluding state governments from recent divestment processes, particularly the Shell Petroleum Development Company and Agip Oil Company exits.

“Bayelsa State made efforts to acquire shares in these divested assets, given our history of over 70 years of oil operations, but we were overlooked,” he said.

On the theme of this year’s NOGOF, “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry Through Indigenous Capacity Development,” Diri praised the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its vision.

However, he urged the Board to reflect on its past achievements and focus more on building capacity for the youth.

“We must ask: what capacity are we building, and for whom? We need a clear trajectory to move forward,” he stated.

The governor also expressed concerns about Bayelsa’s exclusion from the benefits of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project, despite the state providing 60% of its feedstock.

Also speaking at the event, Hon. Boma Goodhead, Chair of the House Committee on Local Content Development, pledged continued legislative support to enhance productivity in the oil and gas sector.

“Local content goes beyond Nigerian participation—it’s about value addition within Nigeria across the industry’s value chain,” she stressed.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), described NOGOF as a critical platform for catalyzing investment across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. He urged participants to go beyond discussions and pursue tangible partnerships and investments.

Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, highlighted the significance of NOGOF 2025, which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010. He said the event provides a platform for showcasing opportunities and building strategic alliances in the sector.

Ogbe also commended President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy, calling it a forward-thinking step for advancing Nigerian content development.

In her goodwill message, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, said the federal government is committed to building an energy sector that drives industrialization and creates sustainable jobs for all Nigerians.