By Mathew Dennis
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has announced plans to launch two comprehensive baseline studies aimed at reinforcing local content within the nation’s oil and gas industry.
Speaking on Monday at the 24th Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the studies would evaluate the capacity of Nigerian service providers and identify locally sourced goods and consumables used in the sector.
“The Board will also initiate a baseline study to ascertain and verify the available capacity of Nigerian service providers. In addition, we are commissioning a study on the consumables and other goods utilised in the oil and gas industry,” Ogbe said.
He explained that the studies will serve to locate local manufacturers and confirm their operational readiness, forming a key component of the “Nigeria First Policy” that seeks to prioritise indigenous capabilities.
Ogbe said the new initiatives align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda and are being driven through the Board’s Back-To-The-Creek Programme, which is focused on promoting inclusive economic growth and employment opportunities.
The programme supports vocational training, ICT, and STEM education for young people in the Niger Delta, and includes projects to modernise school infrastructure, provide stipends for teachers, and digitise educational materials.
“This programme supports the Nigeria First Policy and is a targeted intervention to build human capital within the creeks. Our goal is to create a skilled workforce that meets the demands of Nigeria’s industrial landscape,” he said.
Ogbe explained that the Back-To-The-Creek initiative reinforces the Technical Capability Development pillar within the Board’s 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, underlining the NCDMB’s long-term commitment to advancing local content across the oil and gas value chain.
He noted the Federal Government’s sustained efforts to increase local participation in the industry, beginning with the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010. These efforts have been further supported by key presidential directives such as Executive Order 001 on the Ease of Doing Business, and Executive Order 005, which encourages preference for Nigerian companies in public procurement.
Ogbe described the Nigeria First Policy as a bold and strategic move towards greater economic self-reliance.
“All goods or services that are produced and/or available locally must not be sourced from foreign suppliers unless there is a clear, evidence-based justification,” he said.
He added that while the focus is on local procurement, all goods and services must still conform to global industry standards. The policy is already being integrated into the Board’s internal frameworks, including Nigeria Content Plans and Compliance Certification processes.
“The Nigeria First Policy is more than a procurement shift,” Ogbe noted. “It is a reaffirmation of our belief in Nigerian enterprise. It is about unlocking indigenous potential, building a resilient supply chain, and creating a sustainable and inclusive economy.”
In closing, the Executive Secretary described local content as a strategic imperative, not merely a regulatory requirement.
“A nation that seeks to attain energy security must build its strength from within. Strengthening local capacity across the oil and gas value chain is essential for job creation, value retention, and advancing indigenous technology,” he concluded.
