Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has intensified its compliance drive in the oil and gas midstream segment, convening a high-level sensitization workshop aimed at deepening adherence to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.
The workshop, themed “Compliance with the Provisions of the NOGICD Act 2010: A Pathway to Industrialization,” held in Lagos, drew key operators across gas processing, transportation, storage and infrastructure development.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Mr. Omomehin Ajimijaye, described the midstream sector as “a critical bridge between upstream production and downstream utilization.”
“The midstream segment plays a pivotal role in gas processing, transportation, storage and infrastructure development, all of which are essential pillars for achieving Nigeria’s industrialization agenda,” Ajimijaye said.
Ajimijaye stressed that adherence to the NOGICD Act goes beyond regulatory obligation.
“Compliance with the NOGICD Act is not merely a statutory requirement,” he stated. “It is a strategic imperative for sustainable national development.”
He explained that the programme was structured to clarify registration processes, Nigerian Content Equipment Certification, expatriate quota requirements, statutory reporting templates and submission timelines.
“Our objective is to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of compliance requirements, address recurring gaps identified during Monitoring and Evaluation reviews, and foster constructive dialogue on operational realities within the midstream space,” he added.
According to Ajimijaye, the Board has received feedback from operators highlighting challenges in meeting Nigerian Content obligations, including reporting complexities and varying interpretations of certain provisions of the Act.
“As a responsive regulator and development-focused institution, we remain committed not only to enforcing compliance but also to providing guidance, clarity and the necessary support to enable stakeholders succeed,” he assured participants.
With Nigeria positioning gas as a transition fuel and economic growth driver, regulatory clarity in the midstream space is essential to unlocking investment and local capacity development.
Participants received technical presentations from key NCDMB divisions, including:
Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Project Certification and Authorization Division, Capacity Building Division and Zonal Coordination Division.
The interactive sessions provided practical guidance on engagement protocols with the Board and strengthened collaboration between regulators and operators.
SweetCrude Reports noted that the renewed focus on compliance in the midstream segment signals NCDMB’s broader strategy to align local content enforcement with Nigeria’s industrialization ambitions, particularly in gas infrastructure expansion and domestic value addition.
