- NCDMB is finalising the Nigeria First Procurement Policy to prioritise local goods and services in the oil and gas sector and strengthen energy sufficiency.
- The policy bars foreign sourcing unless local capacity is unavailable, and the Board will assess Nigerian suppliers through baseline studies and apply the policy in all approvals.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is finalising a new Nigeria First Procurement Policy to prioritise local content in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and strengthen the country’s energy sufficiency.
Felix Ogbe, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, announced the move during the 24th Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week in Abuja. He said the policy would mandate the use of locally produced goods and services, barring foreign procurement unless there is clear evidence of insufficient local capacity.
“This policy is a strategic move to entrench local capacity utilisation and reduce our dependence on foreign inputs in the energy sector,” Ogbe said in his keynote address.
The Nigeria First Procurement Policy aims to deepen indigenous participation across the oil and gas value chain—from exploration and production to processing and delivery.
According to Ogbe, the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader goal of economic independence. He emphasised that energy sufficiency is not just about availability but also about resilience, sustainability, and sovereignty, all of which rely on robust domestic capabilities.
“A nation that aspires to be energy-sufficient must build its energy from within,” Ogbe stressed. “Local content is not just a policy, it is a strategic imperative.”
The new policy builds on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 and Executive Orders such as Executive Order 001—Ease of Doing Business and Executive Order 005—Prioritising Nigerian companies for procurement contracts.
Ogbe confirmed that the Board had already begun integrating the policy into its internal systems and review processes, particularly for Nigerian Content Plans and Compliance Certifications.
To ensure evidence-based implementation, the NCDMB will commission a comprehensive baseline study to identify Nigerian service providers and manufacturers, assess their capacity to meet industry standards, and catalogue consumables and goods currently used in the sector.
“We are documenting locally produced goods and verifying the ability of Nigerian companies to meet demand and quality requirements,” Ogbe said.
Ogbe cited Section 3(1) of the Nigerian Content Act, which requires first consideration for Nigerian goods and services in oil and gas projects, as the legal foundation for the Nigeria First Policy.
The NCDMB aims to turn this legal mandate into measurable progress, creating jobs, retaining economic value, and enhancing Nigeria’s energy resilience.
As Nigeria pursues energy sufficiency and industrial growth, the Nigeria First Procurement Policy signals a bold step towards a self-reliant, sustainable energy future rooted in local capacity and innovation.