DR Congo delegation begins study tour of NCDMB’s local content model

A high-level delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), led by Minister of Hydrocarbons, Simplice Stev Onanga has arrived in Nigeria to understudy the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s acclaimed local content framework for the oil and gas industry.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, received the delegation in Abuja on Monday, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to knowledge-sharing with fellow African nations, particularly under the platform of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO).

Lokpobiri highlighted that Nigeria has achieved 61% local content capacity since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 16 years ago.

Top officials of Nigeria’s petroleum industry and their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at Abuja on Monday, during a courtesy call by the Congolese delegation that visited Nigeria to understudy NCDMB’s local content framework.

He noted that the divestment of onshore oil and gas assets by international oil companies (IOCs) has created opportunities for indigenous firms such as Renaissance Africa Energy Company, SEPLAT Energy Producing Unlimited and Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited to acquire the divested assets and thrive.

“The solution to Africa’s energy challenges lies within Africa,” Lokpobiri declared, stressing that Nigeria currently produces over 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day.

The Minister explained that while deep offshore operations remain dominated by foreign companies, Nigerian oil and gas operating and service firms now control land and shallow water assets, driving local content growth. He emphasized that local content initiatives are industry-funded through a 1% Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy on awarded upstream oil and gas contracts. Lokpobiri assured the DRC delegation that Nigeria would share its experiences openly, conveying greetings from President Bola Tinubu.

NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Director of Corporate Services, Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, expressed the Board’s readiness to support the DRC in establishing a robust local content framework. He pointed to Nigeria’s institutional structures, regulatory synergy, and a 10-year strategic roadmap aimed at achieving 70% in-country value retention and creating over 300,000 direct jobs by 2027.

Minister Onanga praised Nigeria’s achievements, noting that it is the only African country to have attained significant self-sufficiency in oil and gas local content.

“We are proud to be in Nigeria to witness what has been accomplished,” he said.

The understudy visit will continue till Friday and will include tours to the NCDMB Headquarters at Bayelsa State, Onne Free Zone fabrication workshops, NLNG supplier session and UniPort Gas Centre as well as LADOL/Nigerdock yards and other key engagements.