Dont Employ Unregistered Engineers, NCDMB Warns Oil Companies
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has warned to oil and gas companies operating in the country, against employing unregistered and uncertified engineers.
The directive is part of ongoing efforts to enforce professional standards and deepen local content in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the opening session of the fifth Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, emphasized the importance of compliance with engineering certification requirements.
He stated that the Board will not hesitate to take enforcement actions against companies that violate this directive.
“It is unacceptable for companies operating in such a strategic and sensitive sector to hire engineers who are not duly registered and certified. The NCDMB will intensify compliance checks to ensure that only qualified professionals are engaged in engineering functions across the oil and gas industry,” Ogbe said.
The warning aligns with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, which mandates the use of qualified Nigerian professionals in all aspects of the industry.
The NCDMB boss underscored the need to safeguard industry integrity, enhance operational safety, and promote local expertise.
Ogbe also highlighted the progress Nigeria has made in local content development, revealing that local content levels in the oil and gas sector have risen to 56% as of 2024, up from just 5% in 2010.
He attributed the achievement to the consistent implementation of the NOGICD Act and strategic enforcement initiatives.
As part of its broader strategy, the NCDMB is also ramping up support for indigenous companies through funding initiatives and innovation-driven programs such as the NOGTECH Hackathon.
These initiatives are designed to enhance the capacity of local firms to deliver on major industry projects, including the UBETA, Bonga North, and Zabazaba fields.
The NOGOF 2025, themed “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development,” brought together key stakeholders including government officials, oil majors, indigenous operators, and investors to discuss collaborative strategies for sustainable sector growth.
Industry observers say the NCDMB’s renewed focus on professionalism and indigenous capacity development signals a shift toward a more accountable and self-reliant oil and gas ecosystem in Nigeria. The Board reiterated its commitment to building a globally competitive industry anchored on skilled Nigerian talent and strict adherence to regulatory standards.
