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| Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (right) with Minister of Hydrocarbons, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), His Excellency, Simplice Stev Onanga, during a courtesy visit |
DR Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, His Excellency Simplice Stev Onanga, arrived in Nigeria this week leading a high-level delegation to study the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s (NCDMB) widely praised local-content framework for the oil and gas sector.
The delegation was welcomed in Abuja on Monday, September 21, 2026, by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
Speaking at the meeting, Lokpobiri emphasized Nigeria’s willingness to share expertise with fellow African nations, particularly through platforms such as the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO).
A press statement by Obinna Ezeobi, PhD, GM Corporate Communications at NCDMB, noted that Nigeria has built local-content capacity to 61% since the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act became law 16 years ago.
Lokpobiri also pointed out that recent divestments of onshore oil and gas assets by international oil companies have opened opportunities for indigenous players, including Renaissance Africa Energy Company, SEPLAT Energy Producing Unlimited, and Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited - to acquire assets and expand.
“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 1% 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, conveying greetings from President Bola Tinubu.
NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Director of Corporate Services, Dr. 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.
The understudy visit will continue till Friday and will include tours to the NCDMB Headquarters at Bayelsa State, Onne Free Zone fabrication workshops, NLNG supplier session and UniPort Gas Centre as well as LADOL/Nigerdock yards and other key engagements.
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