The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has stepped up efforts to attract Chinese manufacturers to establish production, assembly and technology operations in Nigeria, as it seeks to deepen local manufacturing capacity in the oil and gas industry.
The Board made the push in Chengdu, China, where it engaged more than 100 Chinese Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs, during the 15th China Shale Oil and Gas Summit, held from September 20 to 23, 2026.
Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Representing by the Director of Project Certification and Authorization Division and Senior Technical Adviser to the Executive Secretary, Austin Uzoka, told the summit that Nigeria wanted to move beyond a conventional buyer-seller relationship with Chinese manufacturers towards investment, technology transfer and local production.
“We are looking beyond the traditional buyer-seller relationship. What can we build together? We want Chinese companies to see Nigeria not simply as a market for their products, but as a strategic investment destination, a platform for manufacturing and technology development, and a gateway to opportunities across the wider African market,” Uzoka said.
He said the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development, NOGICD, Act provides a strong market opportunity for investors, noting that oil and gas equipment manufacturing facilities established in Nigeria would be patronised by the industry, with additional opportunities across the Gulf of Guinea.
Uzoka also highlighted the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme, NOGaPS, as a platform for Chinese OEMs to establish manufacturing, assembly and service operations in Nigeria. He said such investments would create opportunities for technology transfer, technical partnerships and the integration of Nigerian businesses into global supply chains.
According to him, Nigeria’s local content policy has evolved from merely increasing Nigerian participation in oil and gas projects to a broader industrial development agenda focused on manufacturing, technology ownership and global competitiveness.
“Nigeria’s local content journey has evolved significantly since the Local Content Law was enacted in year 2010.
“What began primarily as an effort to increase Nigerian participation in the oil and gas industry has developed into a broader industrial development agenda focused on building capabilities, deepening manufacturing, promoting technology ownership and positioning Nigerian businesses to compete within regional and global markets,” he said.
The second day of the summit featured a business-to-business session organised by NCDMB, bringing together more than 100 Chinese equipment manufacturers and Nigerian oil and gas stakeholders to explore investment, local manufacturing, supply-chain integration, technology development and market access.
Participants included representatives of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Project 100 and Renaissance African Energy Company, which also represented the Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS.
The session enabled Nigerian companies to showcase their capabilities while Chinese manufacturers examined opportunities for market entry, local production and technical cooperation.
Several Chinese OEMs subsequently expressed interest in developing business relationships with Nigerian companies and participating in the country’s growing oil and gas manufacturing ecosystem.
Uzoka said China’s capabilities in manufacturing, engineering, technology and energy infrastructure could complement Nigeria’s industrial development ambitions.
“China has developed tremendous capabilities in manufacturing, engineering, technology and energy infrastructure. We want to explore how those capabilities can be connected with the opportunities that exist in Nigeria, for mutual benefits,” he said.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Midstream, Project Certification and Authorization Division, Lekoma Phimia, urged participants to build on the contacts established at the B2B session and translate them into commercially viable and sustainable business relationships.
NCDMB also used the summit’s exhibition platform to showcase Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, local content opportunities and prospects for international companies seeking to establish operations in the country.
The Chengdu engagement is part of the Board’s broader drive to reposition local content as a vehicle for industrialisation, linking Nigerian businesses with global manufacturers and technology providers while promoting manufacturing, technology ownership and regional competitiveness.
