The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company have inaugurated a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to drive the implementation of local content during the operational phase of the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Dangote Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, marks a significant milestone in the strategic collaboration between the two institutions, aimed at reinforcing local content growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Presiding over the event were the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, and the Group Vice President, Oil and Gas at Dangote Group, Chief Edwin Devakumar. The ceremony featured the formal signing of the Committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR), a guided tour of the refinery and associated facilities, and the official launch of the Committee’s activities.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year Award to the Dangote Refinery. The award was bestowed at the recently held Champions of Nigerian Content Awards in May. Engr. Ogbe presented the certificate to the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who expressed delight at the recognition and pledged to proudly display the award in his office.
Commending the Dangote Group for the development and commissioning of the world’s largest single-train refinery, Ogbe described the achievement as a “historic milestone” for Nigeria and Africa. He noted that the project is a testament to the impact of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010 and the capacity of Nigerian-led industrial initiatives.
> “At an optimal daily production capacity of 650,000 barrels, this refinery will significantly enhance Nigeria’s energy security and boost the supply of refined petroleum products across West Africa,” Engr. Ogbe said. “Nigerians have to own the plant, make sure it works well, secure it, and maintain it.”
The Executive Secretary stressed NCDMB’s continued partnership with the refinery and urged strict adherence to Sections 32 and 33 of the NOGICD Act, which mandate local manpower utilization and NCDMB’s approval prior to engaging expatriates.
> “No expatriate can be employed in any oil and gas organization without prior approval of the Board. We must protect Nigerian jobs,” he emphasized, commending the company for training and hiring Nigerian engineers.
> “This collaboration must ensure qualified Nigerians are prioritized across all operational roles. It is vital to job creation, skills development, and national capacity building, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
Ogbe also called on Dangote Refinery to support the Board’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) aimed at fostering manufacturing and innovation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within oil-producing regions.
> “We would like Dangote to support our oil and gas industrial parks initiative. These parks will enable SMEs to engage in fabrication and other manufacturing activities, thereby creating jobs and deepening local content,” Ogbe said.
In his remarks, Chief Edwin Devakumar appreciated NCDMB’s support throughout the refinery’s construction phase and noted that while much has been achieved in local content promotion, there is room for growth.
> “We are grateful for the NCDMB’s guidance. As a Nigerian and entrepreneur-driven company, our focus will continue to be on Nigerian content, while maintaining cost-efficiency,” Devakumar said.
He reiterated Dangote Group’s commitment to national industrialization and capacity building, stressing the Group’s role in transforming Nigeria’s industrial landscape.
The event culminated in the formal inauguration of the Joint Technical Committee. The Committee is tasked with ensuring strict implementation of local content provisions during the refinery’s operations. Its core mandates include the promotion of Nigerian skilled manpower, services, and locally sourced materials in line with Section 3 of the NOGICD Act.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Corporate Services at NCDMB and Chairman of the Committee, thanked the leadership of both organizations and pledged the Committee’s full commitment to enforcing local content standards and generating tangible economic benefits for Nigeria.