There has been a positive shift in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as regulators and operators adopt a new framework to drive local content development across key sectors of the economy.
This is a bold step to build capacity expansion, industrialisation, manufacturing, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
It marks a new phase that goes beyond indigenous participation and regulatory compliance.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NIPEX), and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) jointly develop the framework.
They aim to harmonise the grading system for ranking in-country capacities and capabilities.
Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, says the first 15 years of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010 raised indigenous participation from less than 5 per cent to 61 per cent.
Nigerians now own and manage critical assets across the value chain.
He notes that the energy sector can now support a strong manufacturing ecosystem, but local manufacturers still face challenges such as limited market access, technology gaps, and financing constraints.
Engr. Ogbe calls for stronger collaboration among regulators, operators, service companies, financial institutions, and manufacturers. Under the new Harmonisation Roadmap, the agencies will modify certification portals and begin joint industry capacity audits.
The audits will map existing capabilities, reduce intermediaries, speed up contracting, and promote direct patronage of genuine service providers.
The framework classifies service providers into five categories and gives special support to “Emerging Players” and “Essential Vendors” to help them grow into manufacturers and original equipment makers.
Ogbe outlines three strategic priorities for the next phase: competence through human capital and technology transfer, capacity expansion via manufacturing and industrialisation, and collaboration among all stakeholders.
He highlights recent NCDMB initiatives including the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate guidelines, Field Readiness Training Programme, and other capacity-building efforts.
The joint capacity audit is expected to start in the third quarter of this year.
