The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has begun studying Nigeria’s local content framework as it seeks to strengthen indigenous participation and build capacity in its oil and gas industry.
A high-level Congolese delegation, led by the country’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, Simplice Stev Onanga, visited Nigeria to understudy the policies, institutions and strategies developed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, said the country’s experience demonstrates how local content policies can increase domestic participation in the petroleum industry. He noted that Nigeria has reached about 61 per cent local content capacity since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.
The Congolese delegation is expected to examine Nigeria’s approach to developing indigenous companies, technical expertise, infrastructure and supply chains within the petroleum sector.
The engagement also reflects growing cooperation among African oil-producing countries seeking to retain more value from their natural resources and reduce dependence on foreign expertise.
For Nigeria, the knowledge-sharing initiative provides an opportunity to showcase its local content framework while strengthening regional cooperation in the oil and gas industry.
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