The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) announced it has achieved a significant milestone, recording a 56% local content level in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. This marks a substantial increase from 20% in 2016, with the Board aiming to reach 70% by 2027.
The announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Ogbe, during the 13th Practical Nigerian Content Forum held in Bayelsa State. He highlighted the organization’s commitment to initiatives that bolster local capacity, including the Back to the Creek Initiative for community development, scholarship programs, and the establishment of the Nigerian Content Academy.
Ogbe explained that the academy, based at the NCDMB headquarters in Bayelsa, offers specialized training programs spanning the entire oil and gas value chain, preparing Nigerians for roles in upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. “This academy is a cornerstone of our efforts to enhance local capacity in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010,” Ogbe stated.
The Board also announced plans to establish zonal offices in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Delta States to decentralize operations and further its mission.
Gas Projects Gain Momentum
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, detailed the government’s progress under the Decade of Gas Initiative, including the commissioning of two critical gas projects:
•SEPLAT Assa North (300 MMSCF/day)
•SPDC Ohaji South (300 MMSCF/day)
In addition, final investment decisions have been made on projects like TOTAL Ubeta (330 MMSCF/day) and SPDC Iseni (90 MMSCF/day), which together aim to add 420 MMSCF/day of natural gas to Nigeria’s production. Key infrastructure projects like the OB3 Gas Pipeline (97% complete) and the AKK Gas Pipeline (77% complete) were also highlighted as essential to boosting domestic and export capacity, with projections of adding 4 BCF/day by 2030.
“Gas will be the cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy transition, offering local businesses opportunities in distribution, processing, and power generation,” Ekpo remarked. He also emphasized the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, which seeks to transition Nigeria’s energy sector from PMS to CNG-powered engines, following the removal of fuel subsidies.
NNPCL Highlights Local Content Transformation
Mallam Mele Kyari, Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), praised the impact of the NOGICD Act of 2010, noting its role in driving local business empowerment and industrial innovation. He also underscored the importance of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which strengthens investment, transparency, and sustainability in Nigeria’s energy sector.
“The NCDMB has been instrumental in propelling Nigeria to global competitiveness by maximizing local content benefits and supporting industrialization in the energy sector,” Kyari noted.
These advancements underscore the NCDMB’s and the government’s unwavering commitment to fostering a self-reliant and globally competitive Nigerian oil and gas industry.
