Gladys Chibuzo
Nigeria’s 15-year push to take control of its oil and gas industry has delivered a historic breakthrough, with local participation now at 61 per cent, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Engr. Felix O. Ogbe, has announced.
Ogbe disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the 25th Edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas, NOG, Energy Week Conference & Exhibition, where he delivered the keynote address themed ‘Shaping the Next Phase of Local Content Growth’.From 5% to 61%: The Milestone
Tracing the journey since the enactment of the NOGICD Act in 2010, Ogbe said Nigeria had moved from “marginal levels of less than 5%” to a point where “Nigerians now own assets, provide services, execute projects, and contribute significantly across the oil and gas value chain.
”But he warned that the next phase must go “beyond participation and compliance” to focus on “capacity expansion, industrialization, manufacturing, sustainability and global competitiveness.”
“The reality is that Nigeria’s energy sector has the capacity to support a vibrant manufacturing ecosystem. Yet, many local manufacturers continue to operate below capacity due to limited market access, technology gaps, and financing constraints,” he said.Joint Capacity Audit, Vendor Development Planned
To address this, Ogbe said NCDMB, working with NIPEX, NUPRC, NMDPRA, NNPC and OPTS, has developed a framework to harmonise the grading of in-country capacities under the Presidential Directive on Local Content.
The next step, he added, is a joint industry capacity audit of manufacturers and service providers in Q3 2026. “The outcome will provide a detailed understanding of existing capabilities, eliminate intermediaries, improve contracting cycle timelines, and ensure direct patronage of established service providers,” he stated.Under the Harmonisation Framework, five classes of service providers have been adopted. Class 4 ‘Emerging Players’ and Class 5 ‘Essential Vendors’ will anchor a new vendor development programme to help firms evolve into manufacturers and OEMs.
The Board will provide technical partnerships, financing access, and guaranteed market opportunities.Ease of Doing Business, Skills Push
Ogbe said NCDMB has released NCEC Application Guidance Notes and an escalation email to cut approval delays. Project certification SLA timelines have also improved amid a “wave of major oil and gas projects” in the last one year.On human capital, he announced that 20,000 Nigerians have registered for the Board’s Field Readiness Training Program focused on 10 high-demand skills. In partnership with OGTAN, the Board has also introduced the Nigerian Content Trainers Registration Certificate, NCTRC, to standardize training quality.Back-to-the-Creek and Education Interventions
Updating on the ‘Back-to-the-Creek Initiative’ unveiled at NOG 2025, Ogbe said sites have been identified in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers and designs for learning facilities completed. Last week, the Board also launched its ‘Cradle-to-Career’ programme, honoring 500 outstanding secondary students from underserved communities in Delta. Another 500 beneficiaries are planned for this quarter.Compliance Warning on NCDF
The ES issued a strong warning on remittances to the Nigerian Content Development Fund. “It is therefore unacceptable for any company to withhold, delay, or fail to remit its statutory contributions,” he said, adding that a valid NCDF Compliance Certificate is now critical for participation in industry opportunities. The Board, he said, will strengthen enforcement and “not hesitate to invoke all available regulatory measures.”No Projects, No Local Content
Ogbe said the future of local content is tied to project development. “No projects; no local content. Capacity cannot grow in isolation. Manufacturing cannot thrive without demand,” he noted.He called for faster project sanctioning and proposed an ‘FID Day’ at NOG or NIES to conclude regulatory approvals and drive investments needed to make oil and gas a double-digit contributor to Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy goal.
