Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, presented the board’s policies at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit in Abuja, noting that they are now regarded as a model for industrial growth throughout Africa. Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, NCDMB’s Manager of Corporate Communications, explained that the board’s strategic intervention in the barite value chain—a mineral essential to oil and gas drilling—lies at the core of the reforms.
Ogbe deta
He mentioned that comparable policies are being introduced in the steel and pipe manufacturing industries, such as a directive from 2022 mandating the domestic sourcing of oil tubular goods and bare line pipes.
He stated that the reforms are bolstered by wider industrial support initiatives, including the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Parks (NOGAPS) and a $350 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, which is managed in collaboration with the Bank of Industry to enhance local manufacturing.
iled the agency’s efforts over the past decade to develop domestic capacity, including certifying reserves in six states and requiring exclusive procurement from local processors via the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC).He stated: “Today, the importation of barite for drilling purposes in Nigeria is banned.
“It wasn’t a coincidence that occurred. This was enabled by intentional policy tools, collaborations with stakeholders, and mechanisms for enforcement.
Ogbe, represented by Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, NCDMB’s Director of Corporate Services, stated that the interventions have enhanced value retention, generated employment, and established Nigeria as a continental model for mineral-based industrialization.
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