NCDMB Boss Advocates Africa-Wide Local Content Framework for Mutual Prosperity at NIES 2025
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has called for the establishment of an Africa-wide local content framework to promote cross-border partnerships and unlock the continent’s energy potential.
Speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2025 in Abuja, Ogbe emphasized that local content is not just a policy but a strategic pathway to sustainable economic growth and energy security across Africa. Delivering his keynote address titled “Unlocking Africa’s Potential through Local Content: Policies, Partnerships, and Progress”, he stressed that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a unique opportunity to position local content as a catalyst for continental industrialization.
Ogbe highlighted that Africa’s true wealth lies not in resource extraction but in value retention, capacity building, and local value addition within the economy. He urged stakeholders to commit to policy refinement, capacity building, and strategic collaborations to drive the continent’s industrial transformation.
“Unlocking Africa’s potential through local content requires unwavering commitment to building capacity, refining policies, and forging strategic partnerships,” he stated.
The NCDMB boss reaffirmed the board’s dedication to working with African countries to share best practices, develop industrial hubs, and create synergies that benefit the continent’s energy landscape.
Ogbe commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Orders, which have positioned Nigeria as Africa’s top destination for oil and gas investments. He revealed that the Executive Orders, which reduced the contracting cycle for oil and gas projects from 36 months to six months, have led to four Final Investment Decisions (FID) within a year.
“The Executive Orders have expedited project approvals, removed bureaucratic bottlenecks, and boosted investor confidence,” Ogbe noted.
He outlined Nigeria’s achievements in local content development, including job creation and the establishment of a self-sustaining oil and gas ecosystem through capacity building, policy enhancements, and strategic partnerships. The NCDMB’s flagship initiatives, such as the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF) and Human Capacity Development (HCD) programmes, have significantly contributed to developing indigenous businesses and training thousands of Nigerians in specialized industry skills.
Additionally, the Project 100 Initiative has empowered indigenous service companies to become major players in the industry, with some expanding across international markets. Ogbe also announced that the Board is developing Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Parks across seven locations to support local manufacturing of equipment, components, and spare parts for the industry. Major construction works are set to be completed by the end of the year, with plots available for allocation to interested investors.
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He further highlighted the success of the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) and the Marine Vessel Categorisation Implementation Strategy, which has increased indigenous ownership of marine vessels from less than 8% in 2010 to over 60% today.
Engr. Ogbe concluded by reaffirming NCDMB’s commitment to fostering partnerships across Africa to drive sustainable energy development, create jobs, and accelerate the continent’s industrialization journey.
