The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has called for increased indigenous participation in the oil and gas midstream and downstream sectors.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Felix Ogbe, made the call on Monday at the 2026 Nigerian oil and gas Midstream and Downstream stakeholders summit on Tuesday in Lagos.
Ogbe was represented at the event by Mr Austin Uzoka, Special Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary and Head of the Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPCAD).
Newsextra24 reports that the two-day summit has the theme, “Unlocking, Growing and Sustaining Nigerian Content Development in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Sectors”.
Ogbe said Nigeria must move beyond basic compliance to practical actions that promote investment, local capacity and economic value.
He said the country was witnessing renewed investor confidence and policy reforms aimed at repositioning the economy for sustainable growth.
According to him, the current administration has taken steps to improve competitiveness in the energy sector, attract investments and create a better environment for businesses.
Ogbe noted that the NCDMB was established through the Nigerian oil and gas industry content development Act of 2010 to deepen indigenous participation, encourage technology transfer and ensure Nigerians benefit more from the nation’s hydrocarbon resources.
He said Nigerian companies had already recorded major successes in the upstream sector, including exploration, drilling, engineering, fabrication and asset ownership.
The NCDMB boss added that the midstream sector now offers growing opportunities in gas processing, transportation, storage, pipelines, LPG and CNG distribution, which are critical to Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
In the downstream sector, he identified opportunities in refining, product distribution, retail operations, petrochemicals and logistics.
He noted that the segment has strong potential for employment generation and small business growth.
Ogbe said Nigeria was gradually moving away from being only a crude oil producer to becoming a major processor and exporter of refined energy products.
He described the Dangote Refinery as a major symbol of the country’s industrial transformation.
He also highlighted the progress in modular refineries, NLNG Train 7, gas commercialisation, LPG penetration and fertilizer production.
He stressed that compliance with Nigerian content laws must remain practical and supportive of business growth.
“Compliance must encourage investment, create value and solve real problems,” he said.
Ogbe expressed confidence that the summit would promote stronger collaboration among stakeholders and help strengthen the energy sector and economy.
