At the 2025 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, declared that Nigeria must lead Africa through local content development in the energy sector.
Speaking on the theme “Driving Investment and Production Growth,” Lokpobiri emphasized that the fair is not just a networking event but a “strategic call to action.” “If Nigerian content fails, Africa fails,” he warned. “What Nigeria cannot do, Africa cannot do.
When we talk about African local content, we must be referring to Nigerian local content. We must lead by design.”The Minister highlighted the evolving role of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), stating that it has shifted from enforcing compliance to driving innovation and enterprise.
“I am proud of how the NCDMB has evolved—from fostering compliance to becoming a force for industrialization, innovation, and enterprise development,” Lokpobiri noted.
He praised indigenous companies for their progress in building FPSOs and managing major oil assets, saying they now meet and even exceed global benchmarks.
The Minister also credited initiatives like the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund and Project 100+ with boosting the capacity of local businesses. “The fund has helped indigenous businesses scale operations and deliver value across the sector for the betterment of all of us,” he said.
“These are not just regional players. They are being prepared to compete on the global stage,” he added.Lokpobiri challenged stakeholders to move from dialogue to action, urging them to sign investment deals and forge strategic partnerships.
“Use this moment to initiate commitments, spark concrete partnerships, and take definitive investment decisions that will shape Nigeria’s oil and gas narrative for decades to come.”He also called on Nigerian youth to seize emerging opportunities.
“You are not just the future—you are already in the driver’s seat,” he said. “What you do today will determine the results we reap tomorrow.”
Reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment, he stated:“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, the oil and gas sector is being repositioned as a platform for national security, economic growth, justice, and intergenerational wealth creation.”
Lokpobiri concluded by urging for unity, investment, and innovation. “Let NOGOF 2025 be remembered as the turning point for transformative growth… We must be reviewing concrete milestones by the time we gather for NOGOF 2026.”
