Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening indigenous participation and maximizing in-country value retention across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as the 2025 NCDMB Governing Council Retreat concluded in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking at the retreat, the Chairman of the NCDMB Governing Council and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Board’s achievements in capacity building, human capital development, and industrial growth continue to drive Nigeria’s energy transition and economic resilience.
“From capacity building to human development, the success story of the NCDMB has continued to boost the nation’s energy workforce and operations, with initiatives that have consistently empowered indigenous operators, thereby driving in-country value retention and strengthening local participation in the energy sector,” Lokpobiri said.
He emphasized that the Board has remained steadfast in fulfilling its mandate, resulting in visible progress across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments.
“At the 2025 NCDMB Governing Council Retreat in Uyo, I drew attention to the fact that the Board has remained resolute in delivering on its establishing mandate. We have, in recent times, witnessed indigenous players rising to the occasion, meeting global standards, and reinforcing confidence in local capacity,” he said.
Lokpobiri added that sustaining these gains is crucial to Nigeria’s long-term industrial development.
“Sustaining these milestones remains paramount, and as we reflected on the achievements, our discussions focused on strategies to strengthen the Board’s institutional framework, ensuring that these gains are not only preserved but expanded for even greater impact in the years ahead,” he added.
Highlighting the Renewed Hope administration’s commitment to revitalizing investment in the energy sector, the minister noted that local content promotion under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership has recorded measurable success.
“In the promotion of local content in our energy sector, we are being holistic in this regard, especially as we have witnessed increased investment in the sector, something that was not the case for the past ten years prior to the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Lokpobiri stated.
During a courtesy visit to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, Lokpobiri explained that the choice of Uyo as the venue for the 2025 NCDMB Governing Council Retreat reflects the Board’s commitment to retaining value within Nigeria’s economy.
“Our choice of Uyo as the venue for the 2025 NCDMB’s Governing Council Retreat aligns with our commitment to retaining in-country value, which remains central to our mandate,” he said.
He also lauded the Board’s impact in enabling indigenous companies to thrive. “The NCDMB has empowered indigenous companies with the capacity to deliver services and operate effectively across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of our energy industry, creating jobs, enhancing technology transfer, fostering industrial growth, and strengthening local participation,” Lokpobiri added.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who serves as Co-Chairman of the NCDMB Governing Council, said the retreat provided an opportunity for strategic reflection on the Board’s future direction.
“The retreat provided an important opportunity for strategic reflection and alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in optimizing local content development across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. We took time to evaluate progress, share insights, and chart a clear path to strengthen collaboration between the Board and the Governing Council,” he continued.
The gas minister expressed confidence that the retreat outcomes would strengthen efficiency and transparency in the NCDMB’s operations.
“I am confident that the lessons learned will translate into greater efficiency, transparency, and impact for the NCDMB. Together, we remain committed to driving local content growth, creating jobs, and ensuring that Nigerians continue to benefit meaningfully from the nation’s oil and gas resources,” Ekpo stated.
Governor Umo Eno commended the NCDMB and the Petroleum Ministry for choosing Akwa Ibom as host, describing the state as a safe, investment-friendly destination. The ministers, in turn, praised Akwa Ibom’s peace and hospitality, noting that it has become “a preferred destination for corporate bodies seeking the serenity and conducive environment needed for productive deliberations.”
The 2025 NCDMB Governing Council Retreat, held at the Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, brought together top government officials, industry leaders, and regulators to review progress, assess ongoing local content projects, and set new policy directions for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
