Mkpoikana Udoma
Yenegoa — The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has declared that the success of Nigeria’s local content initiative is critical not only for the country but for the entire African continent.
Lokpobiri made the statement while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair, NOGOF, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday.
“If local content fails in Nigeria, the whole African content will fail,” Lokpobiri asserted, underscoring Nigeria’s leadership role in shaping indigenous participation across the continent’s oil and gas sector.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s fair, “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development,” the Minister said the agenda captures a clear national mission built on three core pillars: driving investment, boosting production, and deepening local capacity.
“This is not just a statement; it is a call to action. A call to rethink how we produce, how we partner, and how we build, not just for today’s energy needs, but for Nigeria’s long-term prosperity.”
Lokpobiri revealed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is actively pursuing a bold transformation agenda in line with the Renewed Hope vision.
He cited recent executive orders that have streamlined approvals, removed bureaucratic barriers, and restored investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“This is a new era, one where Nigeria is not begging for investments but offering bankable, de-risked, and sustainable opportunities in Africa’s most dynamic energy landscape,” he declared.
As Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Lokpobiri said the Board has moved “from targets to impact.”
He highlighted tangible achievements such as indigenous firms now maintaining FPSO modules, building marine vessels, managing complex upstream assets, and raising global standards in services and safety.
“Through the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, in partnership with the Bank of Industry, we’ve disbursed hundreds of millions of dollars to local players at single-digit interest rates. This is a lifeline that should be driving real growth,” he noted.
He also spotlighted Project 100, an initiative grooming select Nigerian companies into global champions, describing the gains as “measurable and scalable.”
Describing NOGOF as a national investment platform, the Minister said, “The opportunities being showcased are not theoretical wish lists. They are real, vetted, and ready for implementation. Embedded in every project is a local content dimension, a promise to create jobs, build skills, and retain value within our borders.”
He urged financiers and contractors to go beyond talk and turn their engagements into actionable deals.
“Let this edition of NOGOF spark the MOUs, partnerships, and investment decisions that will shape the narrative of the Nigerian petroleum industry for decades to come,” he said.
To Nigeria’s youths and local entrepreneurs, Lokpobiri offered a firm message: “You are not the future, you are the now. Whether you’re a startup working on energy tech, a female-led fabrication firm, or a young engineer seeking experience, there is space for you at the heart of Nigeria’s oil and gas revolution.”
He concluded with a rallying call for unity, urgency, and bold leadership.
“The time for excuses is over. The time for bold decisions is now. Let NOGOF 2025 be remembered not for speeches, but for action. Not for promises, but for partnerships. And not for visions, but for ventures.”
