By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company have formally inaugurated a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to strengthen local content implementation during the operational phase of Africa’s largest refinery.
The inauguration, held at the Dangote Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, included the signing of the committee’s Terms of Reference and a guided tour of the state-of-the-art 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery. The initiative aims to boost the utilisation of Nigerian manpower, materials, and services, in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.
Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, underscored the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, “Nigerians must take ownership of this plant. We need to ensure it is run efficiently, well-maintained, and fully secured.” He stressed the imperative of prioritising indigenous participation across all operational aspects of the refinery.
Ogbe commended the Dangote Group for completing the world’s largest single-train refinery and reiterated the significance of adhering to local content legislation, particularly Sections 32 and 33 of the NOGICD Act, which require NCDMB’s approval prior to employing expatriates.
He also encouraged the company to support NCDMB’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS), which seeks to develop Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through industrial hubs situated in oil-producing communities.
During the event, Dangote Group President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was presented with the “Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year” award, recognising the company’s efforts to strengthen local capacity. Chief Edwin Devakumar, Group Vice President for Oil and Gas, credited the NCDMB’s support during the refinery’s development and pledged continued commitment to Nigerian content in its operational phase.
“This is a Nigerian-owned company with a strong national focus. While we remain commercially prudent, we are deeply committed to advancing Nigeria’s industrial capacity,” Devakumar said.
The newly inaugurated JTC will be led by NCDMB’s Director of Corporate Services, Mr Abdulmalik Halilu. The committee is charged with overseeing compliance with local content provisions, fostering employment, and contributing to national economic growth through domestic sourcing and participation.
This partnership between NCDMB and the Dangote Group reaffirms a shared commitment to positioning Nigerian expertise and enterprise at the core of the country’s industrial advancement.