Nigeria’s pioneering local content framework in the oil and gas industry is emerging as a blueprint for African nations seeking to maximize domestic participation and economic benefits from their natural resources.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said this during the fourth Biennial International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology in Abuja on Wednesday.
Represented by General Manager, Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Tassalla Tersugh, noted that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010 has driven local content in key industry segments from less than 5% to over 54%, generating more than 50,000 direct jobs and significantly enhancing indigenous participation across the supply chain.
“Nigeria’s deliberate focus on local manufacturing, skills development, and technology transfer has positioned our oil and gas sector as a model for the continent,” Ogbe said.
She cited Angola, Ghana, Uganda, and Senegal as countries adopting similar frameworks to bolster their economies. Ogbe emphasized that sustainable hydrocarbon development requires balancing economic growth, environmental stewardship, and robust governance, with regional cooperation and shared infrastructure critical to enhancing Africa’s global energy competitiveness.
In his remarks, the Executive Commissioner for Corporate Services and Administration at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Dr. Kelechi Ofoegbu, representing Chief Executive Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, underscored the transformative impact of transparent regulation.
“Our commitment to accountability has rewritten Nigeria’s oil and gas narrative, elevating indigenous operators to account for over 30% of national oil output,” Ofoegbu stated. “These operators are now building and managing terminals, creating jobs, and driving economic growth through transparent licensing, accessible data, equitable fiscal policies, and consistent regulation.”
Ofoegbu highlighted Nigeria’s Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme as a key step toward achieving zero gas flaring by 2030.
“Gas once flared is now powering homes, small industries, and clean cooking initiatives for millions,” he said, noting tangible progress in sustainable energy use.
He also credited the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 for establishing Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), which have facilitated the construction of schools, clinics, and roads in oil-producing communities, addressing long-standing neglect.
The Principal and Chief Executive of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Engr. Dr. Samuel E. Onoji, aligned the conference’s theme – Transforming Africa’s Hydrocarbon Sector: Balancing Growth, Environment, and Governance – with the urgent need to integrate sustainability into energy development. He noted that PTI, established in 1972, has trained over 55,000 professionals and forged bilateral training partnerships across Africa. Onoji announced that PTI is on track to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification by the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing its commitment to global standards.
Onoji also advocated for the swift establishment of the Africa Energy Bank, an initiative by the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) and Afreximbank, to provide low-interest funding for oil and gas projects and support Africa’s transition to renewable energy.
Conference experts emphasized that Africa’s vast energy resources – over 125 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – hold immense potential to drive industrialization and expand energy access. However, they stressed that this potential can only be realized through ethical governance, regional collaboration, and robust local content policies. Nigeria’s PIA was lauded as a reform template, offering a model of transparency and inclusivity that other African nations can emulate to ensure their hydrocarbon wealth benefits all citizens.
