Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has called on indigenous oil and gas companies to rise to the challenge of taking ownership of Nigeria’s energy sector, following the ongoing divestment of onshore assets by international oil companies, IOCs.
Ogbe stressed that local content must go beyond upstream operations and permeate midstream and downstream sectors.
Speaking at the just concluded 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair, NOGOF 2025 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, he described the divestments as “a bold step and strategic shift” that provides a rare opportunity for Nigerian firms to demonstrate leadership, competence, and commitment to national development.
The NCDMB boss commended companies such as Renaissance, Seplat, and Oando for their recent acquisition milestones, but urged them and other local operators not to relent, emphasizing that expectations were high.
“The sale of onshore assets by the IOCs to indigenous companies is a bold step and strategic shift towards deeper local participation and value retention.
“I use this opportunity to congratulate Renaissance, Seplat, Oando and all our indigenous companies on their milestone achievements. I encourage you not to relent.
“As we move towards rebalancing our economy and increasing oil and gas production, it is imperative that we deepen indigenous participation, not only in upstream services but across midstream and downstream operations,” he said.
The NCDMB boss also made a passionate case for Nigerian companies to invest in human capital development, technology, and partnerships that can scale their operations to global standards.
“Our strength must lie in the expertise of our people, the enterprise of our local businesses, and the robustness of our institutions. To our indigenous players: step up. The opportunities are vast, but so is the responsibility,” he charged.
Ogbe highlighted the Board’s commitment to supporting local content through policies, partnerships, and funding mechanisms, including the upcoming Africa Energy Bank, expected to open in Abuja before the end of Q2 2025.
Themed “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development”, NOGOF 2025 provided a platform for project previews, investment matchmaking, and stakeholder collaboration.
