Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s oil and gas local content success stories dominated discussions at the opening of the 2025 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference in Windhoek, as industry players looked to replicate the model in Southern Africa’s emerging petroleum sector.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, are representing the country at the conference, which brings together policymakers, international oil companies, service providers, Namibian indigenous operators, and other stakeholders to enhance local participation in the sector.
Speaking at the Local Content Masterclass, NCDMB’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, representing the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, outlined strategies African oil producers can adopt to grow domestic capacity.
“Local content value proposition for Africa includes research and technology development, local employment, strategic partnerships, ownership and control of assets, value chain optimisation, sustainable operations, increased production and utilisation of locally made goods, and contribution to GDP,” Halilu said.
Citing Nigeria’s experience, he highlighted achievements such as the establishment of world-class fabrication yards, human capital development programmes, manufacturing initiatives, service sector expansion, financial support schemes, and integration capability for floating production storage and offloading facilities, FPSOs.
On the “new wave” of local content in Nigeria, Halilu pointed to the promotion of equipment assembly and components manufacturing, small and medium enterprise development, enforcement of research and technology transfer, and prioritisation of gas-based industrialization.
He urged African oil producers to “specialise in different manufacturing and service areas of the oil and gas industry and develop competencies to the right specifications,” a strategy he compared to the Boeing aircraft model, where critical components are produced by different manufacturers before final assembly.
Offering what he called “local content nuggets,” Halilu stressed that “local content implementation is not a sprint but a marathon and must be executed as a business and not as corporate social responsibility,” adding that it must be cost-effective and tailored to local realities.
He also recommended that regulations “must apply to all players in the industry and not only foreign companies or expatriates,” while capacity building should extend to grassroots and underserved communities.
“Local content practice will not grow if new projects are not developed,” he warned.
Halilu closed with a commitment to pan-African collaboration: “Nigeria is ready to partner with Namibia and other African nations to build an energy sector that empowers the African people and drives shared prosperity.”
The opening day also featured a presentation by NCDMB’s General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Esueme Dan Kikile, who shared further insights into Nigeria’s training and skills development initiatives.
The conference runs until Friday, with more presentations expected from NCDMB and PETAN leadership.
