The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled the “NCEC Application Guidance Notes”, effective December 2025, aimed at accelerating oil and gas industry contracting, ensuring compliance with local content requirements, and reducing production costs.
The guidance notes, available on the NCDMB website (ncdmb.gov.ng) and the NCEC application portal, are part of ongoing efforts to enforce Presidential Directives on Local Content. These directives mandate the board to prevent unqualified intermediaries from participating in oil and gas contracts, thereby ensuring that only companies with verifiable technical capacity are engaged.
One of the critical points highlighted in the document is that Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCECs) are essential for companies seeking to participate in industry contracts. The NCDMB warned that misuse or improper possession of NCECs contributes to contracting delays and allows unqualified firms to infiltrate the sector.
The guidance notes target several common challenges, including:
Multiple or single NCEC applications not aligned with actual capacities
Submission of fake or forged documents
Under-declaration of personnel
Claims of non-existent offices or equipment
Other misleading or fraudulent applications
According to the NCDMB, the new guidance will facilitate faster and more accurate approval of genuine applications, providing clear instructions for companies to meet all requirements on their first submission.
The NCDMB has outlined eight NCEC categories, which include:
Manufacturing & Related Services (MS)
Fabrication & Construction (FC)
Construction & Moveable Equipment (EC)
Services & Support (SS)
Quality Control, Inspection & Testing (QS)
Non-Moveable Assets (DA)
Procurement & Supplies (PS)
Consultancy Services (CS)
The board advised companies to submit detailed descriptions of their services along with supporting evidence when applying. It reiterated that NCEC applications are free of charge and that agents or middlemen are prohibited from submitting applications on behalf of service companies.
Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager of Corporate Communications at NCDMB, emphasized that NCECs are non-transferable. Companies, subsidiaries, or local partners cannot apply for certificates using shared facilities, equipment, or documentation.
The guidance notes further caution that companies seeking multiple NCECs must demonstrate sufficient assets, personnel, and operational capacity to perform all claimed services. The board will conduct facility inspections to verify capacities before approval.
NCDMB also clarified that NCECs are granted only to companies with operational equipment and resources, not based on anticipated future capacity. Requests for upgrades or additions to existing NCECs will be treated as new applications, requiring full verification.
Certain services are exempt from NCEC requirements, including GSM providers, commercial airlines, educational institutions, legal advisory services, public relations and events management, government agencies, and CSR initiatives with community vendors.
Commenting on the guidance notes, NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe urged oil and gas stakeholders to carefully study the new rules. He warned that submission of forged, altered, or falsified documents constitutes a criminal offense and will attract both legal consequences and administrative sanctions. The NCDMB portal now provides timestamps for all applications and reviews, ensuring transparency and accountability in the NCEC process.
NCDMB issues new NCEC guidance notes to streamline oil and gas contracting, prevent fraudulent applications, and prohibit certificate transfer, ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s local content directives.
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