At the heart of the sensitisation workshop was the launch of the Nigerian Content Fund Clearance Certificate (NCFCC), a new mandatory compliance document that will now be required for project approvals, biddings processes, and all the agency’s certifications. Described as a corner stone of the Board’s regulatory drive, the NCFCC aims to verify remittance of the mandatory one per cent Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) payment as outlined in Section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry and Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

“With the introduction of the Compliance Certificate, companies now have an objective standard to demonstrate conformity, while the Board strengthens regulatory oversight,” said Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, who was represented by Mr. Mubarak Zubair.
But this was not just another workshop, it was a signal. A signal that local content is no longer just encouraged, it os being enforced through structured systems, smarter tools, and financing that meets contractors where they are.
Streamlined Portals, Real-Time Tracking
The event showcased a revamped NCDF payment portal, now offering real-time compliance tracking, simplified remittance processes, and user-friendly interfaces that reflect the Board’s digitisation push. The goal is clear: remove bottlenecks, increase transparency, and make compliance less cumbersome for contractors.

Access meets accountability
The revised Community Contractor Finance Scheme developed in collaboration with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), NEXIM Bank, and the Bank Industry (BoI) was also unveiled. The restricted fund offers loans of up to ₦100 million at single-digit interest rates, specifically tailored to indigenous host-community contractors.

According to BoI’s Gabriel Yemilade, the NCI Fund has disbursed $348 million and ₦48 billion to local firms involved in marine logistics, gas processing, and fabrication. He added that the fund grew from $200 million in 2017 to $400 million due to demand. “We are enabling local content through direct financial support,” he said.
NEXIM Bank also revealed its $50 million dual-window facility, including a $20 million Women in Oil and Gas programme to address gender gaps and promote inclusive financing in the industry.
The real impact

Also Read: Local content moves downstream as NCDMB, Dangote Refinery inaugurate joint committee

While over 130 companies have already benefited from the NCI Fund, access is still a challenge. General Manager of the NCDF, Fatima Mohammed, said only 30.47 percent of applicants met all disbursement conditions, often due to lack of acceptable collateral or incomplete documentation.
To address this, the Board is expanding sensitisation, simplifying processes, and considering flexible security structure, particularly for women and underserved groups.
This campaign also reflect broader Nigeria First policy, which priorities local capacity in all aspect of oil and gas, from exploration and production to logistics and services. Since 2016, Nigeria’s local content level has grown from 26 percent to over 56 percent, a figure NCDMB is determined to improve.
“This is more than a workshop, it’s our reaffirmation to deepen Nigerian content and open doors for indigenous contractors to thrive,” Ogbe noted.

The real test lies ahead. Will the new compliance tools enforce real change or become just another tick-box exercise? Can community-based businesses break into long-dominated supply chains?
For now, one thing is clear. In Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, compliance is the key to participation, and growing.

Meiza Nigeria