The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has rolled out a new set of strategic interventions aimed at strengthening local participation, expanding indigenous financing, and tightening compliance mechanisms in the oil and gas sector.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix O. Ogbe, and delivered as his opening keynote address at the 14th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum on Tuesday in Yenagoa.
According to the statement, which reads partly: “As part of our efforts to provide affordable finance for local players in the industry, we have concluded arrangements to establish the $100 Million Dollars Equity Investment Scheme in partnership with the Bank of Industry. This is a new product in our Nigerian Content Intervention Fund.
“The Board has completed the framework for the issuance of the NCDF Compliance Certificate. This instrument will confirm companies’ compliance to the 1% remittance obligations. The certificate will become effective 1st January 2026 and will be required to get key permits and approvals from the Board.
“In 2019, the Board launched the Project 100 companies. I am happy to announce that following the successful implementation of approved interventions, we will host an exit plan by April 2026 and onboard a new set of Project 100 companies.
“At this point, I am happy to announce that Nigerian Content levels in the projects monitored by the Board have increased from 56% to 61%.”
In the rest of the keynote, the Executive Secretary reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to scaling local content growth through policy reforms, monitoring, capacity building and technology development.
He disclosed that the new $100 million equity scheme would provide direct investment support to high-growth indigenous energy service companies, while also diversifying the revenue base of the Nigerian Content Development Fund.
Ogbe also announced that the Board had expanded the Community Contractors Scheme, achieving more than 94 disbursements in 2025, in line with efforts to empower host communities and strengthen their participation in the oil and gas value chain.
He further revealed that a comprehensive review of seven existing guidelines would be undertaken between the first and second quarters of 2026, alongside the finalisation of the legal and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGAPS) in Odukpani and Emeyal 1.
On project delivery, the Executive Secretary confirmed that construction work on the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre had progressed steadily, following the signing of the contract with Julius Berger in December 2024 and full mobilisation in July 2025.
He added that the Board had rolled out the Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Programme targeting the top 10 skills in high demand, with more than 11,000 applications already received.
Ogbe listed several major industry projects under the Board’s monitoring portfolio, including SNEPCo’s Bonga North Tranche 1, Renaissance EPU Phase 3, TotalEnergies Ubeta Gas Development, the NNPC AKK pipeline, the OB3 Gas Pipeline, ELPS Phase 3, the Odidi–Warri Expansion, and NLNG Train 7.
The Executive Secretary also highlighted progress on the Back-to-Creek Initiative, a scheme designed to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education across rural Niger Delta communities.
He confirmed that feasibility studies and site assessments had been completed for the pilot phase, covering selected primary and secondary schools.
He announced that the Board would introduce a new Nigerian Content Academy Lecture Series—part of the broader Nigerian Content Academy initiative—with seven lectures already delivered on key sector issues.
Looking ahead, he disclosed that the Board would host its annual Research and Development Fair in the second quarter of 2026 and launch the NCDMB Technology Challenge in the first quarter of the year.
Ogbe emphasised that the Board had implemented measures to curb abuse of the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCECs), warning that certificates would no longer be transferable from January 2026 in order to eliminate middlemen and strengthen the integrity of the procurement process.
He reiterated the Board’s belief that Nigerian Content remains central to national development and industrialisation, stressing the need for collaboration and renewed commitment across the industry.
