The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has urged African nations to make local content development the cornerstone of their energy future, saying it is the key to unlocking the continent’s full economic potential.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 4th African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) Local Content Conference and Exhibition in Brazzaville, Congo, Ogbe said Africa’s abundant oil and gas resources must translate into shared prosperity through deliberate local content policies and effective implementation.
The NCDMB boss, who also represented Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at APPO’s statutory ministerial council meeting, stated that Africa holds more than 125 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves and over 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, accounting for more than 10 per cent of global supply.
He, however, cautioned that these resources would not yield optimal benefits without structured local participation.
"Local content is not merely a regulatory framework; it is a development strategy. It represents our resolve to build indigenous capacity, retain value within our borders, and create sustainable jobs for our young and dynamic population," he said.
Pointing to Nigeria’s success in implementing local content over the past 15 years, Ogbe said the country’s experience provides a model for other African oil-producing nations.
He affirmed that the NCDMB is ready to share its policy templates, digital compliance systems, and institutional frameworks, including the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS), with interested countries.
Ogbe also called for the establishment of an African Energy Services Network to deepen collaboration among APPO member states and boost intra-continental trade in oil and gas services.
The proposed network, he said, would create a pan-African industrial ecosystem where manufacturing, fabrication, and engineering hubs complement one another across borders.
He commended the creation of the African Energy Bank, spearheaded by APPO and Afreximbank, as a step toward competitive financing for African energy projects.
"NCDMB stands ready to collaborate, providing technical expertise and project linkages to make the Bank’s objectives a reality," he said.
Ogbe further showcased Nigeria’s world-class oil and gas infrastructure, such as the multibillion-dollar Egina FPSO Integration Yard in Lagos, the first of its kind in Africa, and the Oil and Gas Parks in Bayelsa and Cross River States, designed to host manufacturing firms serving the energy sector.
He also cited the Board’s Human Capacity Development Programme, which has trained more than 20,000 Nigerians in specialised oil and gas skills, as a replicable model for other African producers.
The discussions, moderated by the Board’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, drew commendations from delegates across the continent eager to learn from Nigeria’s approach.
The panelists included Director, Corporate Services, Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, General Manager, Finance and Accounts, Mr Mubarak Zubair, General Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation, Upstream, Mr Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye and the Managing Director, Cypher Crescent Ltd, Mr ThankGod Egbe.
Other officials who participated in similar panel discussions and discussed the Board’s programmes included the Manager, Board’s Projects in the Zonal Coordination Division, Mr Adebayo Joseph and Manager, Facilities and Logistics, Mr Kamsalem Mohammed.
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