Susan Abayomi
A high-level delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has commended Nigeria’s approach to local content development in the oil and gas industry, describing its study tour of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as highly impactful.
The delegation, led by the Director General of Hydrocarbons in the DRC, Franc Mouzabakani, visited NCDMB facilities in Bayelsa State as part of a broader engagement aimed at gaining practical knowledge of Nigeria’s local content framework and its implementation in the petroleum sector.
Mouzabakani said the delegation was impressed by the progress recorded by Nigeria in developing indigenous capacity and strengthening local participation in the oil and gas value chain.
Speaking after touring the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS), Emeyal I, and the 10-megawatt NCDMB Gas Plant at Elebele, he said the visit had provided the team with a clearer understanding of how Nigeria’s local content policies operate in practice.
“We are very impressed; the visit is very impactful,” Mouzabakani said, adding that the delegation had gained valuable lessons from the experience.
He explained that the team’s earlier engagements in Abuja, followed by the visits to NCDMB facilities in Bayelsa State, had helped them connect the policy discussions with practical examples of local content implementation.
“We are now touching the reality of local content development in Nigeria. We have a lot to take away. Congratulations to Nigeria,” he added.
One of the facilities that attracted the delegation’s attention was NOGaPS, which is designed as a one-stop manufacturing hub for components used in the petroleum industry.
Mouzabakani also highlighted the NCDMB Gas Plant as a practical demonstration of local participation, noting that the facility is operated by Nigerian companies while its gas supply is sourced from a local producer.
The study tour followed the delegation’s earlier engagements in Abuja, where Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, received the team led by DRC Minister of Hydrocarbons, Simplice Stev Onanga.
During the Abuja engagement, Lokpobiri explained that Nigeria had recorded significant progress in local content since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.
He said Nigeria was willing to share its experience with the DRC and other African countries seeking to strengthen indigenous participation in their energy sectors.
The NCDMB has also expressed its readiness to support the DRC in developing a strong local content framework, with emphasis on institutional structures, regulatory coordination, capacity development and sustainable participation by indigenous businesses.
The Board has identified a 10-year strategic roadmap aimed at increasing in-country value retention and creating additional employment opportunities within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The Congolese delegation’s visit reflects growing interest among African oil-producing countries in Nigeria’s experience with local content development.
The NCDMB has increasingly promoted collaboration among African countries, arguing that stronger regional cooperation, harmonised policies, technology development, financing and skills development can help African businesses capture more value from the continent’s natural resources.
The delegation’s programme in Nigeria also included planned visits to key energy and industrial facilities in Port Harcourt and Lagos, providing opportunities for the visitors to examine additional aspects of Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
The engagement underscores the increasing focus on knowledge-sharing among African energy-producing countries as they seek to develop indigenous businesses, strengthen technical capacity and retain a greater share of value from their natural resources.
