Ziggy Ojiegbe

The Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board has pledged to deepen Nigerian Content implementation across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry as part of efforts to drive sustainable economic growth, industrial expansion, and employment generation.

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Executive Secretary of the Board, Felix Ogbe, made the commitment on Tuesday at the 2026 Nigerian Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Summit in Lagos, where he also stated that policy reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration had restored investor confidence, improved competitiveness, unlocked dormant opportunities, and created a more enabling environment for businesses across the energy sector.

According to Ogbe, the reforms are already yielding positive outcomes across the oil and gas value chain and are repositioning Nigeria as one of the most attractive investment destinations for energy projects in Africa.

He said the Federal Government now views the midstream and downstream petroleum sectors as the next major frontier for sustainable economic growth, industrial development, employment creation, and national competitiveness.

“The next major frontier for sustainable economic growth, industrial expansion, employment generation, and national competitiveness lies significantly within the midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry,” he said.

Ogbe noted that the NCDMB, established under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, remains committed to promoting indigenous participation, building local capacity, encouraging technology transfer, and ensuring that the value generated from Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources translates into tangible economic benefits for Nigerians.

He highlighted the progress recorded in the upstream sector, where Nigerian companies have become active contributors to complex projects involving exploration, production, drilling services, engineering, fabrication, marine operations, and project management.

In the midstream sector, he identified emerging opportunities in gas gathering, gas processing, transportation, storage infrastructure, pipelines, LPG and CNG distribution, and related industrial infrastructure.

“As Nigeria continues to deepen its gas-based industrialization agenda, the midstream sector presents enormous opportunities for investment, technology deployment, local manufacturing, and capacity development,” he stated.

Ogbe also pointed to growing opportunities in the downstream sector, including refining, product distribution, depot infrastructure, petrochemicals, logistics, lubricants, and retail operations, which he described as major drivers of employment creation and local enterprise development.

He said Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products was gradually declining due to bold reforms, improved regulatory clarity, and increasing private sector participation in the industry.

The NCDMB boss described the Dangote Refinery as one of the clearest symbols of Nigeria’s industrial ambition and self-sufficiency, noting that the facility ranks among the largest single-train refineries globally.

He also cited ongoing investments in modular refineries, gas commercialization projects, LPG penetration, Compressed Natural Gas deployment, petrochemical expansion, fertilizer production, and associated infrastructure developments aimed at increasing domestic value addition.

According to him, projects such as the Nigeria LNG Limited Train 7 expansion, gas infrastructure programmes, and the Federal Government’s Presidential Initiative on CNG demonstrate Nigeria’s growing capacity to process and export finished and semi-finished energy products rather than relying solely on crude oil exports.

Ogbe stressed that while compliance with Nigerian Content regulations remains central to the Board’s mandate, implementation must also be practical, investment-friendly, and supportive of business growth.

“This summit is not just another industry gathering. It is a strategic engagement designed to bring together policymakers, regulators, operators, investors, financiers, contractors, service providers, manufacturers, and technology providers to chart a sustainable path for Nigerian Content development within the midstream and downstream sectors,” he said.

Earlier, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the NCDMB, Esueme Dan Kikile, said the summit was taking place at a critical period in Nigeria’s energy development journey.

He said the theme of the summit, “Unlocking, Growing & Sustaining Nigerian Content Development in Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Midstream and Downstream Sectors,” reflects the industry’s collective commitment to strengthening indigenous participation, promoting local capacity development, encouraging investment, and supporting sustainable economic growth.

Dan Kikile added that the summit would provide a platform for regulators, operators, investors, service providers, financial institutions, and policymakers to develop practical solutions and strategic collaborations aimed at enhancing local capacity and competitiveness in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.