Midstream, downstream sector expansion vital for job creation — NCDMB

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has stated that maximizing indigenous participation in the midstream and downstream sectors is the next major step toward driving national industrialization and creating massive employment opportunities for Nigerians.

Ogbe made this declaration on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, during his opening address at the 2026 Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Stakeholders Summit held in Lagos.

He emphasized that expanding local content footprint beyond upstream operations is crucial to retaining energy wealth within the local economy.

According to the NCDMB boss, the midstream and downstream segments encompassing refining, gas processing, distribution, and petrochemicals hold immense potential to stimulate economic activities, build local technical capacity, and generate sustainable jobs across the energy value chain.

He noted that the board is deliberately re-engineering its regulatory frameworks to lower the barriers to entry for indigenous firms.

Ogbe further explained that the newly developed NCDMB Midstream and Downstream Operating Model will streamline compliance procedures, promote transparency, and foster harmonious co-existence between operators and host communities.

He added that enforcing the provisions of the NOGICD Act 2010 in these sectors will fast-track Nigeria’s transition from a mere exporter of crude oil to a hub for refined petroleum and specialized petrochemical products.

The summit coordinator and Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the NCDMB, Abdulaziz Mohammed, also spoke at the event, urging financial institutions and international development partners to collaborate with the board.

He emphasized that structured financing is vital to empowering domestic operators to acquire high-tech infrastructure and sustain long-term growth in the industry.