For Africa to fully translate its abundant hydrocarbon resources into sustainable development and shared prosperity, local content must be at the heart of the continent’s energy strategy, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has said.

Ogbe made the remarks during the 4th African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) Conference and Exhibition on Local Content in Africa, held in Brazzaville, Congo. The high-level event convened policymakers, energy ministers, and industry leaders to advance local content implementation across the continent.

Representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, at APPO’s Statutory Ministerial Council Meeting—where a new Secretary-General was elected—Ogbe stressed that African nations must build indigenous capacity and establish value-retention mechanisms to fully benefit from their resources.

He noted that Africa’s 125 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 620 trillion cubic feet of gas would have limited impact unless countries adopt and effectively implement local content policies. “Local content is not merely a regulatory framework; it is a development strategy. It represents our collective resolve to build indigenous capacity, retain value within our borders, and create sustainable jobs for Africa’s young population,” he said.

Drawing from Nigeria’s 15 years of successful local content practice, Ogbe highlighted that deliberate policy design and pragmatic execution can deliver measurable economic gains. He reaffirmed NCDMB’s readiness to share its frameworks, tools, and expertise with other African petroleum-producing nations.

The Board has developed robust models—including policy templates, monitoring structures, and digital compliance platforms such as the NOGIC Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS)—which could serve as blueprints for other countries seeking to deepen local participation.

Ogbe also proposed the establishment of an African Energy Services Network, aimed at connecting fabrication, manufacturing, and engineering hubs across the continent to strengthen value retention and create a pan-African industrial ecosystem. “Such a framework would enable African companies to complement one another’s capacities, creating cross-border linkages that enhance competitiveness and drive industrialisation,” he added.

He commended the creation of the African Energy Bank, a joint initiative by APPO and Afreximbank, describing it as a milestone for competitive financing of Africa’s oil and gas projects. NCDMB stands ready to provide technical support and project linkages to help actualize the bank’s objectives.

Highlighting Nigeria’s achievements, Ogbe cited the Egina FPSO Integration Yard at LADOL Free Zone, Lagos—Africa’s first such facility—and the NCDMB Industrial Parks in Bayelsa and Cross River States, which host manufacturers of oil and gas components and create opportunities for SMEs and investors.

He also showcased the Board’s Research and Development (R&D) and Human Capacity Development (HCD) initiatives, which have trained over 20,000 Nigerians in specialized oil and gas skills—scalable models for other African nations.

“Nigerian service companies are eager to collaborate with their African counterparts in engineering, marine, fabrication, and digital energy services. Cross-border investments in modular refineries, gas processing, and local manufacturing could further deepen integration,” he said.

During the conference, senior NCDMB officials participated in technical sessions highlighting Nigeria’s local content journey. Panel discussions, featuring insights from key directors and industry partners such as Cypher Crescent Ltd., generated strong interest from other countries keen to adopt Nigeria’s model.

Ogbe reaffirmed that NCDMB’s vision extends beyond Nigeria, emphasising that Africa’s collective progress depends on leveraging shared expertise, building indigenous capacity, and sustaining intra-African collaboration in the energy value chain.