African leaders have referred to as on Nigeria to create a cross-border coverage alignment to permit for extra information sharing to allow them obtain their targets in native content material growth.
Particularly, Ghana and different African nations have underscored the rising affect of Nigeria’s native content material framework and urged stronger cross-border coverage alignment.
They spoke on the simply -concluded NOG Vitality Week in Abuja, simply as different indigenous oil firms lauded the initiative that has created extra jobs within the nation.
Ghana’s deputy chief government of the Petroleum Fee, Nasir Alfa Mohamed, famous that African nations have lengthy appeared to Nigeria for vitality sector management. He referred to as for dismantling boundaries to regional integration and advocated for standardised rules.
“A Ghanaian firm ought to be capable of compete for contracts in Nigeria based mostly solely on benefit,” Mohamed stated. “We’d like joint regulatory our bodies, mutual recognition of requirements, and strong help for platforms just like the African Oil Discussion board.”
Mohamed additionally highlighted Ghana’s rising partnerships with Nigeria and others, together with a memorandum of understanding with Uganda.
He famous that Ghana is at the moment the one African nation taking part within the Worldwide Upstream Discussion board.
On the NOG Vitality Week in Abuja, business leaders robustly defended Nigeria’s native content material coverage, rejecting claims that it inflates enterprise prices within the oil and fuel sector.
They cautioned that such criticisms jeopardise the nation’s industrial progress and lauded the Nigerian Content material Growth and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its pivotal position in constructing indigenous capability and fostering innovation.
Throughout a panel session titled “Expertise as a Enterprise Technique”, panellists championed NCDMB’s contributions, emphasising its success in driving native experience and technological development.
Group chief government officer of Pana Holdings, Dr. Daere Akobo, dismissed critiques of native content material as arguing that its advantages to Nigeria’s financial system far outweigh any perceived value will increase.
“Claims that native content material drives up prices are misguided,” Akobo stated. “How are you going to prioritise value over GDP progress? The place will our youth discover jobs? Undermining native content material for short-term good points is a mistake. Nigeria should keep the course.”
On his half, managing director of Coleman Cables and Wires, George Onafowokan, counseled NCDMB’s data-driven method, crediting it for vital strides in native content material growth.
“Information is the spine of progress,” Onafowokan stated. “Efficient information assortment and accessibility are important. Due to NCDMB, we’ve achieved 52 per cent native content material—a exceptional milestone.”
NCDMB’s pioneer government secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwapa, highlighted the Nigerian oil and fuel sector’s resurgence, pushed by elevated manufacturing, deregulation, and improved governance. He emphasised the necessity for long-term sustainability to maintain this momentum.
“Africa is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s international coverage,” Nwapa stated, pointing to initiatives just like the West African and African Fuel Pipelines, the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA), and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First, Africa Subsequent” technique as proof of Nigeria’s continental dedication.
Chief government of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, represented by Prof. Zainab Gobir, harassed the significance of joint infrastructure, uniform tariffs, and coordinated rules for true financial integration.
The chief government of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe,, reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic position in regional vitality cooperation, noting that the nation accounts for almost 30 per cent of Africa’s oil reserves and 33 per cent of its fuel.
Komolafe additionally praised President Tinubu’s current Government Order, which reinforces native content material legal guidelines by prioritizing human capability growth, boosting investor confidence.
“Worldwide oil firms now recognise Nigeria’s strong native experience, making it a key funding draw,” he stated. “We’re exporting our native content material mannequin to different African nations.”
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