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Sunny Oputa speaking for Energy & Corporate Africa, Houston, Texas:  Engineer Yar’Adua, foremost, I want to thank you for granting this interview with me. Since you are about to leave for the airport to catch your flight back to Nigeria, I will try to limit this interview to ten minutes and concentrate on local content issues.

Sunny Lawrence–Oputa ( R) Publisher / CEO of Energy & Corporate Africa welcoming Engineer Abubakar Yar’Adua, GMD NNPC (L) to an interview at the Four Seasons Hotel, Downtown, Houston.

Yar’Adua:   Ten minutes as you said and only local content.

S. Oputa:   How would you define Local Content?

Yar’Adua:     My definition of Local Content will be in line of that of DPR.

[Local Content is defined by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as the quantum of composite value, either added to or created in the Nigerian economy through a deliberate utilization of Nigerian human resources, material resources and services in the exploration, development, exploitation, transportation and sales of Nigerian oil and gas resources. We strive to achieve it without compromising internationally accepted quality, health, safety and environmental standards. - Ed.]

S. Oputa:   How do you encourage local contractors to meet standards and be able to compete favorably with foreign contractors?

Yar’Adua:   We monitor the work done by local contractors and encourage them to acquire more skills and training for their personnel. If a local contractor is identified to have experience, skill, adequate personnel, necessary equipment in a particular field, we will give support to the contractor to acquire more equipment and also give him a contract he will do for at least five years. In so doing, the local contractor will recover the initial investment on equipment purchase and also make reasonable profit.

S. Oputa:   What’s your take on human resource development in the Niger Delta?

Yar’Adua:   Niger Delta Region should do something drastic toward the development of their human resources. The various governments have to arrange and send these kids to school. Some of them need to be sent abroad for training. There must be plans for manpower development in that region. The Niger Delta governments have to send their youths to school to be trained in fields such as geology, petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, etc. This was what Ukpabi Asika did after the civil war, as the Administrator of East Central State. Asika sent many easterners to various metallurgical institutions. That’s why if you go to Oshogbo Mill, Aladja, or Ajaokuta Steel, name them you will find one easterner or another in key positions.

S. Oputa:   What would be your assessment of the general state of development in the Niger Delta?

Yar’Adua:   I have worked in various locations in the Niger Delta. After many years of operation in the Niger Delta, if you go there you will find out that nothing has changed in terms of infrastructural development. It is possible that some people may have bought cars, some traveled abroad or moved out of the villages, but when it comes to infrastructure, such as good road network, clean pipe borne water, electricity, standard schools, hospitals, nothing much has happened.

S. Oputa:   Do you think the foreign oil companies are doing enough in their corporate social responsibilities?

Yar’Adua:   I think the JV must figure out a way other than just giving contracts to local indigenes of the oil producing areas as their way of ensuring development in the Niger Delta. There should be more and the JV has to look into this.

S. Oputa:   Can we get your views on the incessant militia activities in Port Harcourt?

Yar’Adua:   As you can see the militia uproar in Port Harcourt has been quelled by the soldiers. Using the army in checking the militia is working.

(L) Engr. Yar’Adua GMD NNPC,( C) Mr. Mohammed, GM NNPC London Office ( R) Sunny Oputa, Publisher/CEO Energy and Corporate Africa during the All Niger Delta Conference.

S. Oputa:   Finally, how do you assess NNPC?

Yar’Adua:   For NNPC to become more productive, it should be commercialized. NPDC, need to be taken to the capital market. In so doing NPDC will be able to increase performance and become more profitable. NPDC was fashioned after PetroBras, and should start operating like its foreign counterpart.

[At this point, Yar’Adua’s personal assistant signals him that it was time to leave for the Airport]

Personal Assistant:   Sir, we should be leaving for the airport to avoid missing our flight.

Yar’Adua:   Well, if I miss my flight they will find me a place to sleep in Houston (He joked)

S. Oputa:   For sure, Sir, we have a place for you in Houston. Thank you for granting us this interview and have a safe flight.