NCDMB, Dangote Push For Local Suppliers, Warn Against Compliance-Only Approach
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Nigeria risks losing the economic benefits of major industrial investments unless local businesses can supply the goods, services and technical expertise needed to sustain them, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Dangote Group have warned.
The two organisations called for increased investment in technology, skills development and affordable financing to strengthen indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.
The call came at a strategic retreat of the NCDMB/Dangote Joint Technical Committee in Lagos, themed “Beyond Compliance: Partnering for Sustainable Nigerian Content Development.”
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Engr. Austin Uzoka, said building major industrial facilities was only part of the task, stressing that Nigeria must also develop local supply chains and technical capacity to maintain them.
He cited the Dangote Refinery as an example of the need to build domestic capabilities to sustain major industrial investments, warning that weak local supply chains could allow economic benefits to flow outside the country.
Ogbe also identified high interest rates and delays in accessing finance as major obstacles preventing indigenous businesses from expanding and competing effectively.
Dangote Group’s Vice-President, Dr Edwin Devakumar, said Nigerian content development must become a national responsibility rather than a regulatory burden, urging businesses and institutions to embrace local capacity development.
Meanwhile, NCDMB’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Omomehin Ajimijaye, disclosed that Nigerian content interventions had retained more than $10 billion in the Nigerian economy, generated over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs and supported more than 50 million man-hours of training.
However, he said in-country value retention stood at about 61 per cent, below the 70 per cent target, calling for stronger collaboration among regulators, operators and service providers.
The stakeholders also stressed the need for local procurement, technology transfer, workforce development and better coordination among government agencies to expand Nigerian businesses’ participation in the energy sector.
They urged industry players to move beyond meeting statutory requirements and build a stronger domestic industrial base capable of creating jobs, retaining wealth and supporting Nigeria’s long-term economic growth.
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