A high-level delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), led by the country’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, Simplice Stev Onanga, has arrived in Nigeria to study the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s (NCDMB) local content framework for the oil and gas industry.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, received the delegation in Abuja on Monday, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to sharing its experience with other African oil-producing countries, particularly through the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO).
Lokpobiri said Nigeria’s local content capacity has risen to 61 per cent since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 16 years ago.
According to him, the divestment of onshore oil and gas assets by international oil companies has also created opportunities for indigenous operators to expand their participation in the sector.
He identified Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Seplat Energy Producing Unlimited and Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited among Nigerian companies that have acquired divested assets and are positioning themselves for greater participation in the industry.
“The solution to Africa’s energy challenges lies within Africa,” Lokpobiri said, noting that Nigeria currently produces more than 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day.
The minister explained that although deep offshore operations remain substantially dominated by foreign companies, Nigerian operating and oilfield service companies have increasingly taken control of land and shallow-water assets.
He attributed part of the growth in local participation to the Nigerian Content Development Fund, which is financed through a one per cent levy on awarded upstream oil and gas contracts.
Lokpobiri assured the DRC delegation that Nigeria was prepared to share its experiences, institutional knowledge and lessons from the implementation of the NOGICD Act, while conveying the greetings of President Bola Tinubu.
NCDMB promises institutional support
The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, who was represented by the Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, said the Board was ready to support the DRC in developing a sustainable local content framework.
Halilu highlighted Nigeria’s institutional arrangements, regulatory coordination and long-term planning as some of the structures that have supported the country’s local content development.
He also referenced the NCDMB’s 10-year strategic roadmap, which targets 70 per cent in-country value retention and more than 300,000 direct jobs by 2027.
The initiative, he explained, is designed not only to increase Nigerian participation in oil and gas activities but also to deepen industrial capacity, skills development, manufacturing and employment opportunities around the petroleum value chain.
DRC seeks to replicate Nigeria’s experience
Onanga commended Nigeria’s progress in developing indigenous capacity in the petroleum industry, describing the country’s experience as an important reference point for the DRC.
“We are proud to be in Nigeria to witness what has been accomplished,” he said.
The study tour is expected to continue until Friday, with the delegation scheduled to visit several major oil and gas facilities and institutions.
The programme includes engagements at the NCDMB headquarters in Bayelsa State, Onne Free Zone fabrication workshops, an NLNG supplier session, the University of Port Harcourt Gas Centre, LADOL/Nigerdock yards and other strategic facilities.
The visit is expected to provide the DRC delegation with first-hand exposure to Nigeria’s regulatory architecture, funding mechanisms, industry participation model, fabrication capacity, supplier development and institutional approach to increasing indigenous ownership across the petroleum value chain.
