Nigeria’s push for stronger local content is reshaping its mining and industrial landscape, with key reforms now driving increased revenue, job creation, and investment.
At the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit held in Abuja, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) shared updates on how its policies are transforming the sector. A major highlight is Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in barite, a mineral essential to oil drilling. Executive Secretary Felix Ogbe, represented by Director of Corporate Services Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, noted that all barite used in the country is now sourced locally, following over a decade of targeted interventions.
The reforms have also extended to steel and pipe manufacturing, backed by a 2022 policy that requires local sourcing for bare line pipes and oil tubular goods.
The NCDMB’s efforts are supported by initiatives like the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Parks Scheme (NOGAPS) and a $350 million fund managed with the Bank of Industry to grow local manufacturing.
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake, reported that Nigeria secured over $800 million in mining-related investments in 2024. He pointed to the $100 million lithium battery plant in Nasarawa and a $600 million lithium refinery under development near Kaduna as direct results of a new requirement that mining licences include local processing plans.
Mining revenues also surged from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024, driven by better regulation and enforcement.
Neighbouring countries are taking note. Liberia’s petroleum regulator, Jake Kabakole, praised Nigeria’s local content framework as a model for other African nations aiming to develop their resources sustainably.
Local participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is also rising, with indigenous companies now producing 15% of crude oil and supplying 60% of domestic gas. Nigerian engineering and fabrication firms, such as Dormanlong and Aveon Offshore, are handling complex projects once dominated by foreign companies.
To support this shift, the NCDMB is working with COREN to ensure that only certified Nigerian engineers are employed on major projects. A customs alert system now blocks imports of items—like paints, cables, and valves—that are already made in Nigeria.
Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu said the Electricity Act 2023, which allows 11 states to operate their own power markets, supports local industry by encouraging the production of solar components, meters, and other clean energy technologies.
Kenya’s Minister of Mining, Hassan Ali Jobbo, urged African governments to determine their own critical minerals, aligning with Nigeria’s approach to self-defined priorities and value addition.
