Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has emphasised the importance of local content and skills transfer as the country strengthens its partnerships with international investors in the energy sector.
Speaking during an engagement with stakeholders at The African Energy Week in Cape Town on Wednesday, the minister emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian workers and businesses remain at the centre of the industry’s development.
“Job creation, capacity building is very, very critical in our country, Nigeria,” Ekpo said, adding that the local content policy framework remains the foundation of Nigeria’s industrial strategy.
According to him, every operator in the sector must align with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to ensure technology transfer and workforce participation.
The minister highlighted recent engagements with foreign partners, pointing to ongoing discussions with the United States Department of Energy and emphasised that Nigeria’s current regulatory environment provides the right climate for investment, citing recent presidential executive orders and reforms aimed at strengthening investor confidence.
With the NCDMB working closely alongside foreign investors, Ekpo argued, Nigeria is positioning itself not only to host projects but to retain knowledge and technical expertise.
The remarks come as Nigeria intensifies efforts to boost domestic gas development, reduce reliance on imports, and ensure that global partnerships deliver tangible benefits to its people.
