NCDMB Takes Centre Stage at 2025 NOG Conference, Showcasing Local Content Success and Regional Impact
Abuja, Nigeria – July 5, 2025 — The 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference held in Abuja spotlighted the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as a key driver of Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape, reinforcing its central role in local content advancement, indigenous participation, and regional energy collaboration.
Held from June 30 to July 2, 2025, the NOG Conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders who hailed the transformative impact of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and reaffirmed the Board’s strategic importance in actualizing Nigeria’s energy aspirations.
Celebrating Strategic Achievements
A major highlight of the conference was the recognition of NCDMB’s role in enabling critical infrastructure milestones. One such project is the Otakikpo Crude Export Terminal in Rivers State, Nigeria’s first indigenous onshore crude oil export terminal in over five decades. With a projected $1.3 billion investment and capacity to store up to 3 million barrels, the facility underscores the Board’s effectiveness in empowering indigenous operators and reducing evacuation costs by as much as 40%.
At the gala dinner, Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) commended NCDMB for its instrumental role in facilitating the project, which is expected to boost Nigeria’s crude output to 2 million barrels per day in the near term.
Driving Local Content Through Policy and Investment
NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the “Nigeria First” policy, which prioritizes local goods, services, and human capital across the energy value chain. The policy, grounded in the 2010 NOGICD Act and President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Orders, mandates domestic procurement unless foreign alternatives are convincingly justified.
This approach, Ogbe said, is being implemented through the Nigeria First Procurement Policy, targeted Nigerian Content Plans, and robust audits of local capacity — all aimed at boosting job creation, retaining economic value, and encouraging innovation.
Another focal point was the revamped Community Contractors Financing Scheme under the Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI) Fund, offering up to ₦100 million in loans to community-based contractors. Now simplified for greater accessibility, the scheme is being executed in partnership with institutions like FCMB and the Bank of Industry (BOI) to deepen participation of oil-producing communities.
“Back-to-the-Creek” and Human Capital Development
NCDMB’s “Back-to-the-Creek” initiative, showcased during the conference, also received attention for its emphasis on human capital. By promoting STEM education, vocational training, digital literacy, and cultural preservation, the program aims to empower underserved communities, aligning with President Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda to foster inclusive economic development.
Boosting Indigenous Production and Industry Capacity
Abdulrazaq Isa, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), noted that Nigerian-owned companies now contribute over 50% of Nigeria’s oil and gas output. Enabled by increased local content in operations and services, IPPG members are targeting 1.3 million barrels per day of oil and 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas by 2027.
The divestment of assets from international oil companies (IOCs) to local players has been a significant enabler of this transformation, with NCDMB providing the policy support, financing pathways, and technical capacity-building required to sustain this growth.
Key Projects and Regional Influence
NNPC Ltd’s Group CEO, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, cited the Board’s support for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, which has successfully crossed the River Niger and is slated for completion by Q4 2025. The Board’s collaboration with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has also been crucial to the success of projects such as Project 1 Million Barrels, pushing national production to 1.7 million barrels per day, with a goal of reaching 2.5 million by 2026.
Across multiple sessions, stakeholders countered criticisms that local content policies inflate costs. Industry leaders like Dr. Daere Akobo of Pana Holdings and Mr. George Onafowokan of Coleman Cables and Wires defended NCDMB’s framework, stressing that the long-term benefits — including GDP growth, job creation, and innovation — far outweigh short-term expenses. NCDMB’s integration of data and technology continues to address cost inefficiencies and improve procurement processes.
Exporting the Local Content Model Across Africa
The NOG Conference also explored Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping local content policy across Africa. Former NCDMB Executive Secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwapa, noted that over 16 African countries have modeled their laws after Nigeria’s pioneering NOGICD Act. Regional projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline further underscore Nigeria’s emerging role as a key gas supplier to Europe.
Calls were made for deeper regional cooperation, with Ghana’s Deputy Chief Executive, Nasir Alfa Mohamed, advocating for harmonized regulations and shared governance frameworks. Engr. Farouk Ahmed of NMDPRA highlighted Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund as a blueprint for de-risking investments across the continent.
Looking Ahead: Training, Innovation, and Collaboration
Despite the progress, the conference acknowledged ongoing challenges — particularly the need to intensify investment in human capital development. Stakeholders stressed that Nigeria’s refining ambitions and energy diversification goals cannot be achieved without a highly skilled workforce.
Industry veteran Mr. Anibor Kragha of ARDA cited Nigeria’s $2 billion annual spend on imported petrochemicals as a development gap that can be closed through local capacity building — a goal NCDMB is already working toward.
As panelists called for sustained collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector, NCDMB’s ongoing education and training programs were widely seen as essential to long-term energy security and self-sufficiency.
Conclusion: NCDMB as a Catalyst for Transformation
NCDMB’s robust presence at the 2025 NOG Conference reinforced its role as a transformative force in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. By championing local content, building infrastructure, financing communities, and investing in people, the Board is positioning Nigeria as a regional energy leader with local participation at the core of its growth strategy.
As Nigeria aims to scale production and reduce import dependency, NCDMB remains a critical partner in delivering energy that is not just sustainable — but proudly and powerfully Nigerian.
Dr. Obinna Ezeobi
General Manager, Corporate Communications
July 5, 2025
