- The NCDMB has launched a digital portal to automate compliance certificate issuance in the oil and gas sector
- The portal was developed in partnership with BOI and NEXIM to support digital transformation and ease of doing business
- The initiative is positioned as a major step toward transparency, accountability, and improved industry financing
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has launched a new digital portal designed to automate the issuance of compliance certificates for contractors and operators within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The unveiling took place on Tuesday, March 31, in Warri, Delta State, during the ‘Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Programme on the Upgrade of NCDF Payment Portal.’
The event was held in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), and featured technical sessions alongside an interactive panel discussion with industry stakeholders.
Representing the Board’s Director of Finance and Personnel Management, Mr Ossa Uchendu, the Manager of Finance and Accounts, Mr Desmond Awumade, described the portal as a transformative development for the sector.
He said, “It is with immense pride that we gather today for the official unveiling of the Nigerian Content Fund Compliance Certificate Portal.
“This launch is not just about technology. It is about aligning with the national vision for ease of doing business, digital transformation, and accountability, as reinforced by recent Executive Orders of the Federal Government.”
Under the Nigerian Content Act, operators and contractors are mandated to remit one per cent of every upstream contract’s value into the Nigerian Content Development Fund. Obtaining a compliance certificate confirms this remittance and is required to access the fund.
Uchendu noted that the previous manual system created bottlenecks.
“In the past, compliance confirmation was handled manually. Companies submitted physical documents, waited for verification, and endured delays that often stretched into weeks.
“This slowed project approvals, created uncertainty, and limited transparency for regulators and investors.
That is why today matters.”
He explained that the newly introduced portal would significantly reduce processing time, eliminate the need for physical documentation, and provide real-time status updates.
Regulators can now instantly verify compliance through a centralised digital system accessible to investors and financial institutions.
“By digitising the process, the portal enhances access to the fund. 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,” he said.
Highlighting the broader impact, Uchendu added:
“This portal is more than a digital tool. It is a commitment to innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
“It reflects the forward-thinking approach of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, recognising that the future of regulation is not just enforcement, but enablement.”
Also speaking, Mr Oladipupo Adebanjo of the BOI’s Oil and Gas Group commended the partnership between BOI and NCDMB, which led to the creation of the Nigeria Content Intervention Fund.
He also pointed to a community contractor fund aimed at supporting the wider industry ecosystem.
Adebanjo encouraged stakeholders to utilise the portal, stating:
“As long as they make one per cent contribution to the funds, they have a remittance ID, which they will use to login into the portal and access the fund. These funds are readily available for individuals, companies and players in the oil and gas industry.”
Meanwhile, Mr Turner Erefa, Manager of the Fund and Treasury Management Division at NCDMB, described the fund as a vital financial resource.
“The fund, which is currently over 500 million dollars, is designed to support the industry at single digit with moratorium premiums on yearly interest and is in conjunction with the development banks of industry,” he said.
Erefa emphasised the importance of the newly introduced compliance certificate:
“The essence of the certificate we have unveiled today is to ensure that compliance with the one per cent levy, which is the major source of this fund, is adhered to by all players in the industry.”