NCDMB, Firm Train Young Engineers in Project Cost Management, Maintenance in Oil and Gas
A five-day training programme for 50 young facility engineers, organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in conjunction with Ijalla Engineering Services Limited, reached the concluding phase on Thursday in Port Harcourt with special focus on project cost management in oil and gas, and maintenance records and documentation.
The engineers, shortlisted from the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) Joint Qualification System (JQS) Portal of the NCDMB, were introduced to costing for a structured Field Development Plan (FDP) Programme over four phases (2026-2029), centring on activities such as well intervention, drilling campaigns, flowline installations, surface facility upgrades, and compression station expansion.
Such operations, according to the programme brochure, are critical to sustaining “long-term field performance” and “unlocking additional reserves.”
On Maintenance Records and Documentation, the young engineers were introduced to work orders, that is, “documents that outline the work to be performed, including tasks, materials, and labour,” and Maintenance schedules, “schedules that outline routine maintenance activities, such as inspections and replacements.” Also treated were equipment histories, that is, “records of maintenance activities, repairs, and replacements performed on specific equipment.”
The importance of accurate documentation was emphasised, particularly in helping to ensure compliance with requirements and industry standards, and in auditing and decision-making.
Speaking at the close-out ceremony, a representative of the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Engr. Harmony Kunu, congratulated the young engineers on the successful completion of the training, assuring them that great opportunities lay ahead of them in and out of the industry.
He explained that the training programme was conceived by the Board as a means of bridging the huge gap between the largely theory-based education they had received in their respective tertiary institutions and what takes place in the actual work environment. “This training brings you to your supposed path of work and success,” he noted, adding that “The next training will be more of simulation.”
Engr. Kunu pointed out that more practical scenarios were desirable because young engineers who get employed might not be privileged to find good engineers and technicians in the field who would be willing or have enough time to put them through aspects of the operations.
In his contribution, Dr. Abraham Apereseikumo Alfred, of the NCDMB’s Strategy Transformation and Projects Division (STPD), said the Board is intentional in introducing the young engineers to critical aspects of oil and gas industry operations.
According to him, capacity building for the oil and gas industry is a core mandate of the Board, and the young facility engineers represent the potential of the country for growth and development in that regard. “Nigeria is proud of you,” he declared, adding, “As you finish this training…the preparedness to contribute to the oil and gas industry is in you.”
Also speaking, a representative of Ijalla Engineering Services, commended the young engineers for their comportment during the duration of the training. He said, with enhanced capacity, they qualify to function effectively in the industry.