From Rareview Energy Desk
LAGOS – The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has issued a rallying cry to African oil-producing nations to dismantle “industrial silos” and embrace a unified, cross-border strategy to secure the continent’s energy future.
Speaking on Tuesday at the landmark 10th Anniversary of the Sub-Saharan International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC 2026) in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, asserted that collaboration is no longer optional but the “cornerstone” of an afrocentric approach to sustainable growth.
The 61% Milestone and the Crackdown on Intermediaries
Represented by the Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, the NCDMB boss revealed that Nigeria’s systematic local content strategy has yielded a massive 61 per cent in-country value retention over the last 15 years.
However, Engr. Ogbe signaled a shift toward stricter quality control to protect these gains. He disclosed that the Board has introduced new policies prohibiting the transfer of certifications to intermediaries—a move designed to eliminate “briefcase contractors” who add cost without technical value.
“Our approach now ensures we work only with competent and capable contractors,” Ogbe stated, emphasizing that technical competence has become the non-negotiable criterion in industry tenders.
Leveraging the ‘Brazzaville Accord’
Beyond Nigeria’s borders, the NCDMB highlighted the strategic importance of the Brazzaville Accord, signed in November 2025 by member countries of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO). The Accord commits nations to harmonizing local content policies and co-exploiting hydrocarbon resources.
“Our efforts cannot be siloed; they must be collective,” Ogbe urged delegates. He argued that regulatory harmonization across the continent would allow Africa to leverage its 1.4 billion-person market to build a robust, sustainable energy sector capable of weathering global volatility.
The Africa Energy Bank: A New Financial Frontier
Addressing the perennial challenge of project financing, the Executive Secretary hailed the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) in Abuja as a “strategic milestone.”
The bank, a joint venture between APPO and Afreximbank, is expected to provide the much-needed capital to fund oil and gas projects that international lenders are increasingly shunning due to energy transition pressures. Engr. Ogbe called on African governments and private investors to throw their full weight behind the bank to ensure its operational success.
SAIPEC 2026: A Hub for Continental Synergy
The conference, which has drawn over 1,200 delegates and 150 exhibitors to the Eko Convention Centre, serves as a litmus test for Africa’s readiness to lead its own energy narrative. As the three-day event unfolds, the message from Nigeria’s local content umpire remains clear: Africa’s path to energy sufficiency is paved with regional cooperation, indigenous mastery, and the rejection of fragmented development strategies.