The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals are pushing for stronger local capacity to maintain and operate refineries, as industry stakeholders seek to reduce dependence on imported technology and services.
The position was discussed at a Joint Technical Committee retreat held by both organisations in Lekki, Lagos, on Friday, October 16, under the theme “Beyond Compliance: Partnering for Sustainable Nigerian Content Development.”
Engr. Austin Ozoko said Nigeria’s local content drive must go beyond meeting regulatory requirements to building the expertise, technology and supply chains needed to sustain the country’s oil and gas industry.
He identified indigenous ownership of technology, reliable local suppliers, maintenance capabilities and access to affordable financing as priorities for strengthening Nigerian participation in the sector.
Ozoko stressed that maintaining refining infrastructure was as important as constructing it, calling for greater investment in local expertise and the development of future refineries.
The focus on maintenance highlights the need for Nigerian companies to develop the technical capacity to support refinery operations, rather than depend heavily on foreign service providers and imported technology.
Dangote Group’s Vice President, Oil and Gas and Fertiliser, Dr. Edwin, reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to local manufacturing and industrial development.
He said the Group’s philosophy, championed by its President, Aliko Dangote, was to produce locally goods that Nigeria and other African countries would otherwise import.
Edwin called for increased investment in domestic production, noting its potential to retain jobs, grow gross domestic product and strengthen Africa’s industrial capacity.
As part of the retreat’s outcomes, the Joint Technical Committee presented a draft Service Level Agreement (SLA) to Dangote management for review.
The committee is expected to make final adjustments to the document at its fourth-quarter meeting scheduled for December 2026.
The Managing Director’s representative at Dangote Industries Free Zone Development Company, Mrs. Charity Idachaba, commended the committee for aligning policy objectives with operational realities and urged stakeholders to focus on practical outcomes.
The engagement forms part of ongoing collaboration between NCDMB and Dangote to expand indigenous participation and strengthen local expertise, technology and industrial development across Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
