NCDMB Unveils Online Compliance Certificate Portal

The Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has unveiled a new digital portal for the Nigerian Content Fund Compliance Certificate to enhance transparency and efficiency in the oil and gas sector.

The portal allows registered contractors and operators to remit one percent of the value of each upstream contract directly into the Nigerian Content Development Fund, in accordance with the provisions of the NCDMB Act.

The unveiling took place during a one-day stakeholder engagement held at the Monarchy Epic Arena in Warri, commercial hub of Delta State.

The event was organized in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), with the goal of fostering accountability and streamlining processes within the industry.

Representing the NCDMB management, Director Finance and Personnel Management, Mr Ossa Uchendu, who was represented by Mr. Desmond Awumade, the Manager of Finance and Accounts, explained that the portal upgrade is not merely a technological advancement but part of the national vision for ease of doing business, digital transformation, and accountability, as reinforced by recent Executive Orders of the Federal Government.

Uchendu, who was represented by Mr. Desmond Awumade, the Manager of Finance and Accounts, further highlighted that the NCDMB, in collaboration with BOI and NEXIM, has mobilized over $300 million through various financing schemes aimed at supporting indigenous businesses and industry development.

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Access to these funds, including community financing and the NOGaps Industry Parks Scheme, NCDMB Women in Oil and Gas Intervention Fund, NCDMB Working Capital and Capacity Fund, now requires a valid NCFC compliance certificate—serving as the key to unlocking funding opportunities and demonstrating adherence to national development objectives.

“Over the years, the Fund has been transformative. Nigerian Content has risen to over 60 percent, meaning more value, jobs, and expertise now reside within our country. More than $400 million has supported over 130 indigenous companies, addressing the critical challenge of access to finance”, he said.

He noted that previously, compliance verification was a manual, time-consuming process involving physical document submission and verification, often resulting in delays of several weeks. The new portal will streamline this process, reducing certificate processing time from weeks to days, enabling online applications, real-time compliance verification, and instant status updates—thus making the entire process more transparent, efficient, and trustworthy.

Awumade emphasized that digitization will facilitate faster access to funds for compliant companies, allowing them to deploy resources into projects that generate jobs, enhance capacity, and strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

“This portal is more than just a digital tool; it’s a testament to our commitment to innovation, accountability, and continuous progress,. It reflects NCDMB’s forward-thinking approach—recognizing that effective regulation is about enabling growth, not just enforcement”, he said.

With the launch of the portal, he said that compliance would becomes faster, simpler, and more transparent adding that the portal will cut certificate processing time from weeks to days, allow online applications without physical visits or paperwork, provide instant status updates, eliminating uncertainty, enable regulators to verify compliance in real time as well as creating a single digital record that investors and lenders can trust.

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He said that by digitizing the process, the portal enhances access to the fund as companies that meet obligations can now obtain certificates quickly, unlock financing opportunities without delay, and channel resources into projects that create jobs, build capacity, and strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.

Awumade said that the portal is more than a digital tool but a commitment to innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement adding that it reflects the forward -thinking approach of the NCDMB, recognizing that the future of regulation is not just enforcement, but enablement.

He urged stakeholders in the sector to embrace the platform as opening of the portal is to let the people know that, the country, Nigeria is ready as the organization systems are evolving as country’s oil and gas industry is becoming more efficient, transparent, and competitive on the global stage.

The event featured a Q&A session featuring industry experts and stakeholders, including Jefferson Tuantongha (GM, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate), Engr.Bashir Ahmed (Supervisor,Projects Certification and Authorization Directorate), Engr. Mustapha Abdullahi (Supervisor, Capacity Building Director), Mohammed Z.Awami ( Head Specialised Business- NEXIM), Gabriel Yemidale, Group Head Oil and Gas Group- BOI) and Akintoide James, Head Midstream and Dealers- FCMB) and Steve Bawa, CEO, S.B. Capital, who discussed the implications of the new portal and the future of Nigerian content development.