Officials of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) have met to explore areas of partnership, particularly in the areas of innovative capacity building measures.
The duo also considered the possibility of developing an interactive platform to showcase African-certified companies in key specialties, leveraging on NCDMB’s renowned Nigerian Content Academy for training and skill development across member states.
This happened when the new Secretary General of APPO, H.E. Farid Ghezali visited the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, in company of senior officials of APPO- Mr. Bakary Traore and Mr. Tchananti Sahguir- at the board’s liaison office in Abuja.
Both sides agreed on the need for equitable distribution of project benefits, harmonization of codes and regulations, technical assistance, knowledge sharing, honest collaboration, and the promotion of regional markets, particularly in West Africa, under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
At the meeting, the NCDMB boss reaffirmed its strong support to the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) and its newly established financial institution – the Africa Energy Bank (AEB).
The meeting came on the heels of Nigeria’s handing over of the fully set up office of AEB on Monday, paving way for the Bank’s launch by APPO and Afreximbank – owners of the institution.
Ogbe conveyed the agency’s strong support to APPO and the Africa Energy Bank’s success, noting that the future of the African oil and gas industry depended largely on the performance of both institutions.
He said: “The NCDMB stands ready to provide operational support for the bank’s launch, in full alignment with the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.”
Key decisions reached at the meeting included launching the interactive local content platform in the first half of 2026, prioritizing financial discipline, circulating relevant roadmaps to stakeholders, following up on outstanding contributions, and providing operational support for the launch.
The APPO secretary-general who assumed office in January 2026 sought the continued support of NCDMB to actualise APPO’s operations, recalling the long standing relationship between the institutions.
While outlining plans for improved transparency in the association’s operations, he advocated for timely financial contributions from member countries, recruitment of new members, and an expected increase in subscriptions. He announced that Mauritania is anticipated to join APPO soon, further strengthening the organization’s continental reach.
Ghezali emphasized the critical need for a transparent selection process of the Governing Board of the Africa Energy Bank, as well as structure and governance process, ensuring all APPO member countries remain equally informed of developments in the bank. He underscored the importance of rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) and credibility requirements to build a credible and inclusive institution.
