LOCAL CONTENT POLICY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP OF OIL AND GAS FIRMS IN SOUTH-SOUTH, NIGERIA

The study evaluated the Local Content policy and Sustainability of indigenous entrepreneurship of oil and gas firms in South-South, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: examine the relationship between the procurement of local materials and operational safety and assess the nature of the relationship between job creation and the maintaining costs of indigenous entrepreneurship of oil and gas firms in South-South, Nigeria. The study used the descriptive survey design approach. The primary source of data was the administration of the questionnaire. A total population of 1,033 entrepreneurs was used. The sample size of 288 was determined using the Taro-Yamane formula. Two hundred and seventy-four (274) returned the questionnaire and accurately filled it. Data was presented and analyzed using the Likert Scale and the hypotheses using Z - the test. The findings indicated that Procurement of local materials had a significant positive relationship with operational safety, Z(95, n = 274), 6.645 < 10.935, P. < .05. Job creation had a significant positive relationship with the maintaining costs of indigenous entrepreneurship of oil and gas firms in South-South, Nigeria, Z(95, n = 274), 8.367 < 11.086, P. < .05. The study concluded that Procurement of local materials and Job creation had a significant positive relationship with operational safety and maintaining costs of indigenous entrepreneurship of oil and gas firms in South-South, Nigeria. The study recommended among others that the management of Oil and gas should ensure effective material procurement to reduce the chances of disruptions due to shortages within the supply chain.