How can Nigeria can maximize opportunities to advance local content and deepen indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry within the provisions of municipal and international laws? This is the focus of a recent publication by AUN Law Professor Uchenna Orji.
Titled, "The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act and GATT Treaty Obligations: On a Path of Harmony or Discord?", this article examines salient aspects of the Local Content Act vis-a-vis Nigeria's obligations under the (General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs) GATT.
Dr. Orji delves into provisions of the content development legislation and their legal and operational interpretation against the provisions of GATT, in the article published in Volume 3, No 7 of the Latin American Journal of Trade Policy (2020).
Assistant Professor Orji concludes that while some sections of the Nigerian Content Law "which favor the use of local products and materials for projects in the oil and gas industry" come short of aspects of GATT provisions, Nigeria can rely on Article XVII of GATT to apply local content measures to promote economic development and improve living standards in the country.
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