Oil Industry Contracting: NCDMB Issues NCEC Guidance Notes, Rules Out Transfer of Certificate

February 2, 2026

Determined to speed up the oil and gas industry contracting processes, weed out firms lacking technical capacity to perform and reduce Nigeria’s cost of production, the Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board has issued the “NCEC Application Guidance Notes”, with effect from December 2025.

The document which is available on the Board’s website – ncdmb.gov.ng, and on the NCEC
application portal, forms part of concerted efforts to operationalize the Presidential Directives
(PDs) on Local Content Requirements, which mandates NCDMB to take further steps to
eliminate intermediaries in the contracting process lacking demonstrable capacity.

Emphasising that one of the key requirements for participating in the Nigerian oil and gas
industry contracting process is the possession of NCECs issued by the NCDMB, the documen
states that “Unmerited possession and/or misapplication of the NCECs during tendering/bid
evaluations contribute to contracting delays and admittance of unqualified intermediaries into
the contracting process”.

According to NCDMB, the goal of the new document is to “tackle cases of single and multiple
NCEC applications not matched to capacities on ground, submission of fake/forged
documents, under declaration of personnel, non-existent offices/equipment, and many other
dubious applications.” It will also enhance timely review and approval of applications from
genuine service companies as the document provides all the requirements needed to complete
credible application at first attempt.

The eight NCEC categories cover Manufacturing & Related Services (MS), Fabrication &
Construction (FC), Construction & Moveable Equipment (EC), Services & Support (SS),
Quality Control Inspection and Testing (QS), Non-Moveable Assets (DA), Procurement &
Supplies (PS) and Consultancy Services (CS).

The document advised service companies to provide details of their specific service offering
with sufficient supporting evidence while applying for any of the NCEC categories via t
application portal. Providing further explanation, NCDMB stressed that it does not solicit or
require any payment for the application, processing, or approval of NCEC or any of its certifications.

It added that “in line with the Presidential directive on Local Content compliance,
NCDMB prohibits the use of agents/middlemen/third parties in raising/submission of NCEC
application on behalf of service companies. Service Companies registered on the NOGIC-JQS
are liable for any claims/documentations submitted in support of application for NCEC or any
other NCDMB certifications using their assigned login in details.”

The document also indicated that companies and their subsidiaries or local partners cannot
apply for or obtain NCEC as separate companies using the same facilities, equipment, assets,
or documentation and NCEC is not transferable for use by another company.”

Continuing, the guidance notes enjoined service companies to only apply for NCECs based on
their core service area, noting that spurious applications contribute to delays in the processing
of genuine applications, warning that cases determined to constitute abuse of NCEC
applications shall attract applicable sanctions.

The NCEC notes also indicated that companies applying for multiple NCECs must have the
capacities in terms of assets, facilities, equipment and personnel to execute the scope
activities under the target NCEC categories, adding that NCDMB will carry out facility visits to
ascertain the capacities and capabilities claimed by the company in all the multiple NCEC
applications.

It stated further that NCECs are not granted in anticipation of establishment of local capacities
but are approved based on functional equipment/assets with dedicated resources/utilities
place to operate or perform the services, hence applicants must be ready to demonstrate
operability and availability of owned assets/equipment as may be required during facility visit
by NCDMB team.

“Request for upgrade or addition of services, on approved, un-expired NCEC based on
additional investment will be treated as new application and subjected to verification of all
equipment/assets/documentation submitted in support of the modification,” the document
added, stating further that applicants are expected to be upfront and intentional in the provision
of the relevant and complete information required for timely review of their requests.

The document also listed services which do not require NCECs. They include GSM service
providers, commercial airlines, educational institutes, legal advisory services, public relations
and events management, government agencies, and CSR projects with community vendors.

Commenting on the guidance notes, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola
Ogbe enjoined oil and gas stakeholders to study the guidance notes while applying for NCEC
He warned that submission of forged, altered, or falsified documents constitutes a criminal
offence and will attract legal consequences as well as Board’s administrative punishments.

He mentioned that NCDMB had set target timelines for the review and processing of NCEC
applications, with the portal providing timestamp of all activities/interactions undertaken from
the point of submission of application and all reviews by the Board.