By Adewale Sanyaolu

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The Federal Government has mandated the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act) 2011 by making available for public consumption, information regarding the level of local content law compliance by International Oil Companies (IOCs).
A letter from the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, with reference number;  MJ/FOI/059/I/70, dated 28th March, 2017, compelled NCDMB  to make the information available to Borderless Limited, a non-profit organization under the FOI Act 2011.
According to the letter which was signed by Mr. Ayo Bakare, State Counsel in the Office of AGF,  argued that “consequent upon the letter under reference, I am directed to draw your kind attention to the provision of section 1 of the FOl Act which established the right of any person to access or request for information whether or not contained in any written form which is in custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution,’’
The Director of Borderless Limited/gte, who is also the Principal Partner at Kusamotu Associates,  Mr. Tunde Kusamotu,  explained that his firm had requested for the local content law compliance level by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited, from 2013 till date. 
NCDMB had said the country may have saved a capital flight of about $380 billion and a job loss of 2 million in the oil and gas sector prior to the implementation of the local content Act because more than 95 percent of the jobs in the industry were done offshore.
According to the pioneer Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Ernest Nwapa, $214 billion worth of procurements and $9 billion worth of research and development were done in North America, while $78 billion worth of technical services and $39 billion worth of engineering works were carried out in Europe.
I am further directed to inform you that in line with the guidelines on the implementation of the Act, each public institution is mandated to designate a senior officer to head its FOI Unit/Desk to be directly responsible for determination of FOI applications and to ensure it delivers on its compliance obligation under the Act.   
“Pursuant to the oversight responsibility of the AGF as stated above, I am directed to forward the attached letter from the law firm, Kusamotu &Associates, representative of Borderless Limited/Gte who is the applicant and to advise you to handle the application in line with the provisions of the FOI Act 2011 under which the information is being requested.”
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja  had on March 7,2017 ruled in suit no; FHC/ABJ/CS/377/16,  that the AGF take necessary steps in ensuring compliance with the request  of Borderless Limited/gte