Sopuruchi Onwuka

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has declared significant milestones in strengthening the capacity, competence, and global competitiveness of Nigerian companies, reinforcing local content as a catalyst for industrialization and economic development.

Ad >>>

Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the board’s strategic approach to local content has moved the industry beyond regulatory compliance toward measurable industrial outcomes.

According to him, NCDMB’s local content framework is anchored on three critical pillars: competence, capacity utilization, and collaboration.

These pillars, he noted, have guided the development of indigenous supply chains capable of delivering high-quality services while retaining value within the Nigerian economy.

Engr Ogbe’s keynote speech was delivered by the Director in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Halilu, to delegates who thronged the International Conference Center, Abuja, for the 2026 Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES).

Over the years, he pointed out, the NCDMB has implemented robust regulations, systems, and processes that have enabled the growth of indigenous technologies, strengthened domestic manufacturing, and fostered research and innovation across the oil and gas value chain. These efforts have resulted in a more resilient and globally competitive Nigerian supply base.

He counted that the Nigerian cable manufacturers that supplied over two million meters of cables for the NLNG Train 7 project now possess the capacity to serve markets across Cameroon, Angola, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Algeria.

Similarly, he narrated, indigenous fabrication and assembly yards such as Aveon, Beamco, and Tranos have developed proven capabilities in the fabrication of pressure vessels, pumps, valves, cable trays, and oilfield production platforms.

According to him, the Board’s interventions have also expanded indigenous ownership of critical marine assets. Companies such as Temile Nigeria, owners of LNG carriers, and Tamrose, with its growing fleet of vessels, exemplify the increasing participation of Nigerian firms in capital-intensive segments of the industry.

Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Engr Ogbe said, several indigenous service companies, including Radial Circle, Weafri, Harybeat, and Fairtex, have successfully expanded operations into Angola, Ghana, Uganda, and Equatorial Guinea, demonstrating the export potential of Nigerian oil and gas services.

Human capital development remains a core focus of NCDMB’s strategy. Through the Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Program and collaboration with members of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association, over 10,000 Nigerian youths have been trained in high-demand skills such as geosciences, subsea engineering, QA/QC, marine operations, automation and controls, underwater welding, digitalization, and drilling engineering.

hese skills are critical to meeting workforce needs for upcoming energy projects across Africa.

Engr. Ogbe also noted that the Federal Government’s Executive Order on Local Content and the “Nigeria First” policy, introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, have further strengthened the local content ecosystem by boosting local capacity, attracting investment in gas and deepwater projects, and accelerating project execution.

In line with these policy objectives, NCDMB has recently revised its guidelines to reduce contracting timelines, eliminate non-value-adding intermediaries, address issues around the transferability of Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCEC), and maximize in-country value retention.

On regional integration, Nigeria played a key role in the development and endorsement of the Brazzaville Accord, which establishes a single Pan-African local content framework. The Accord is expected to facilitate cross-border collaboration and create a unified market of over 1.4 billion people for African oil and gas service providers.

Access to finance was identified as a critical enabler of sustainable local content development. The establishment of the African Energy Bank, whose office is being handed over to the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), is expected to significantly improve access to competitive project financing for African companies.

Engr. Ogbe emphasized that local content has evolved beyond participation to performance, positioning Nigerian companies to lead EPC projects, fabricate complex components, and export specialized services. He concluded that NCDMB’s local content strategy is not only an energy-sector intervention but a broader development and sovereignty initiative aimed at driving industrialization, job creation, and long-term economic growth in Nigeria and across Africa.