The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and NLNG Ltd have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at deepening local content participation, increasing in-country value retention and expanding the economic benefits of Nigeria’s gas industry, as the ongoing NLNG Train 7 project reaches a major milestone of 90 per cent completion.

The renewed commitment was expressed on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG Ltd, Engr. Adeleye Falade, to the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, at the Board’s liaison office in Lagos.

The meeting underscored the strategic partnership between the two institutions and highlighted the critical role of Nigerian Content policy in driving industrial development, employment generation and indigenous participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Speaking during the visit, Falade reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to deepening Nigerian Content, strengthening indigenous capacity and retaining greater value within the domestic economy across the company’s gas processing and marketing operations.

He disclosed that construction work on the company’s flagship Train 7 expansion project had attained 90 per cent completion, with pre-commissioning activities already underway. According to him, the new facility is expected to be commissioned in 2027 and will increase NLNG’s overall production capacity by approximately 35 per cent.

Falade noted that beyond its significance to Nigeria’s gas production capacity, the Train 7 project has emerged as a major employment and economic empowerment initiative, having created direct jobs for about 16,000 persons at the project site.

He observed that the massive employment opportunities generated by the project have contributed significantly to reducing insecurity while delivering positive socio-economic impacts across communities and the wider economy.

The NLNG chief executive commended the longstanding partnership between NLNG and NCDMB, recalling that both institutions had jointly pioneered several groundbreaking initiatives that have shaped the evolution of Nigerian Content implementation in the country’s oil and gas industry.

He expressed confidence that the existing collaboration would achieve even greater milestones under his leadership.

“NLNG values its relationship with NCDMB and remains fully committed to the shared goal of strengthening Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry,” Falade said.

“As a major player in Nigeria’s gas sector, we recognise our responsibility to support indigenous capacity, grow local supply chains, and ensure that our activities continue to deliver meaningful value to the Nigerian economy.”

He assured that NLNG would continue to engage closely with NCDMB in support of local capacity development and increased participation of indigenous companies across the oil and gas value chain.

According to him, the company remains committed to pursuing strategic partnerships capable of translating Nigeria’s vast gas resources into broader economic opportunities for businesses, professionals, service providers and host communities.

Falade further disclosed that NLNG would sustain its focus on practical areas of collaboration with the Board, including vendor development, manpower training, technology transfer, local procurement and enhanced value retention.

“Our commitment is to work closely with the Board in a manner that is deliberate, measurable and impactful,” he stated.

“We want NLNG’s operations and partnerships to continue opening doors for Nigerian businesses, building competitive local capabilities, and supporting the long-term growth of Nigeria’s gas industry.”

Responding, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, congratulated Falade on his appointment and assured him of the Board’s support towards achieving a successful tenure.

Ogbe noted that the relationship between NCDMB and NLNG extends beyond the conventional regulator-operator framework, describing it as a strategic partnership that has produced several landmark achievements in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

He recalled that in June 2017, both institutions signed the first-ever Service Level Agreement (SLA) on Nigerian Content project approval timelines and compliance, an initiative that subsequently became a model for the wider oil and gas industry.

The NCDMB boss also called on NLNG to intensify support for the Brass Shipyard project, which forms part of the Capacity Development Initiative linked to the Train 7 project.

He commended the company’s collaboration with the Board on the initiative, noting that the establishment of a modern drydock facility would provide critical oil and gas infrastructure capable of supporting not only NLNG’s operations but also the broader maritime and energy sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Ogbe expressed optimism that the Brass Shipyard project could be completed during the tenure of the current NLNG management, stressing that its successful delivery would create substantial employment opportunities, deepen local industrial capacity and accelerate infrastructure development.

The meeting formed part of NLNG’s broader stakeholder engagement strategy and reinforced the company’s commitment to sustained collaboration with key industry institutions to advance Nigerian Content, promote local capacity development and maximize the contribution of Nigeria’s gas resources to national economic growth.