The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri has tasked African countries seeking solutions to their energy needs to locate their breakthrough within the continent.
Lokpobiri came up with this while receiving a high-level delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), led by Minister of Hydrocarbons, Simplice Stev Onanga, who arrived in Nigeria to understudy the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s acclaimed local content framework for the oil and gas industry.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to knowledge-sharing with fellow African nations, particularly under the platform of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO).
Lokpobiri highlighted that Nigeria has achieved 61% local content capacity since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 16 years ago.
He noted that the divestment of onshore oil and gas assets by international oil companies has created opportunities for indigenous firms such as Renaissance Africa Energy Company, SEPLAT Energy Producing Unlimited and Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited to acquire the divested assets and thrive.
Read Also:
- Lokpobiri Assures FG Support To OGTAN To Build Sufficient Workforce
- Lokpobiri to speak on future of Nigeria’s oil, gas industry at forum in Paris
- Lokpobiri clarifies remark on Frontier Exploration fund
“The solution to Africa’s energy challenges lies within Africa,” Lokpobiri declared, stressing that Nigeria currently produces over 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day.
The minister explained that while deep offshore operations remain dominated by foreign companies, Nigerian oil and gas operating and service firms now control land and shallow water assets, driving local content growth.
He emphasized that local content initiatives are industry-funded through a one percent Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy on awarded upstream oil and gas contracts.
Lokpobiri assured the DRC delegation that Nigeria would share its experiences openly.
Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, represented by the Director of Corporate Services, Abdulmalik Halilu, expressed the board’s readiness to support the DRC in establishing a robust local content framework.
He pointed to Nigeria’s institutional structures, regulatory synergy, and a 10-year strategic roadmap aimed at achieving 70% in-country value retention and creating over 300,000 direct jobs by 2027.
Minister Onanga praised Nigeria’s achievements, noting that it is the only African country to have attained significant self-sufficiency in oil and gas local content.
“We are proud to be in Nigeria to witness what has been accomplished,” he said.
Our correspondent gathered that the understudy visit will include tours to the NCDMB headquarters in Bayelsa State, Onne Free Zone fabrication workshops, NLNG supplier session and UniPort Gas Centre as well as LADOL/Nigerdock yards and other key engagements.
