NCDMB Tightens Rules On Oil Contracts, Bans Transfer Of NCEC Certificates
In a move to clean up Nigeria’s oil and gas contracting space and cut production costs, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has rolled out stricter rules to weed out intermediaries and firms without real capacity.
The Board has issued new NCEC Application Guidance Notes, effective from December 2025, to fast-track contracting, curb abuse and enforce the Presidential Directives on Local Content.
The guidance, available on the NCDMB website and NCEC portal, underscores that only companies with valid Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCECs) can participate in oil and gas contracts, and that NCECs are not transferable.
NCDMB said unmerited possession and misuse of NCECs during bidding often cause delays and allow unqualified intermediaries into the system.
The new rules target fake or forged documents, under-declaration of staff, non-existent offices or equipment, and multiple applications not backed by real capacity.
The Board also ruled out the use of agents or middlemen, stressing that applications must be made directly by registered service companies on the NOGIC-JQS portal, and that no fees are charged for NCEC processing.
The eight recognised NCEC categories are: Manufacturing & Related Services (MS), Fabrication & Construction (FC), Construction & Moveable Equipment (EC), Services & Support (SS), Quality Control Inspection & Testing (QS), Non-Moveable Assets (DA), Procurement & Supplies (PS), and Consultancy Services (CS).
Firms applying for multiple categories must demonstrate matching assets, facilities, equipment and personnel, as NCDMB will conduct facility inspections to verify claims.
NCECs will only be granted for existing, functional capacities, not anticipated investments.
The Board also clarified that parent companies, subsidiaries or local partners cannot apply separately using the same facilities or documents, and that requests to upgrade existing certificates will be treated as fresh applications subject to verification.
Abuse of the process will attract sanctions.
Services that do not require NCECs include GSM providers, commercial airlines, educational institutions, legal advisory services, public relations and events management, government agencies, and CSR projects with community vendors.
Commenting on the guidance, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, urged stakeholders to study the rules carefully, warning that submission of forged or falsified documents is a criminal offence with legal and administrative consequences.
He added that the NCEC portal now provides timestamps for transparency, with set timelines for application review and processing.
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