The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has thrown its weight behind the establishment of African Local Content Organisation (ALCO).
ALCO comprises oil and gas service providers across Africa with the goal of collaborating among themselves to deliver complex projects, creating and retaining value in the multibillion dollar African energy sector and growing the economy.
In the same vein, membership of the continental body is open to national associations of service providers in the oil and gas and mining sectors across Africa.
ALCO was unveiled in the wake of the just concluded 2025 Oil and Gas Conference, at Windhoek, Namibia.
Following the development, no fewer than 14 African countries have already joined the organization. These include Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Already, ALCO has received endorsement from the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
NCDMB in a statement made available to Maritime Bits stated that the Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Wole Ogunsanya introduced ALCO and explained that the body would serve as the private sector arm of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation, (APPO) which comprises African governments engaged in oil and gas operations.
Ogunsanya who is also a member of NCDMB Governing Council underscored the pivotal and complimentary roles the private sector plays in building African local content, particularly in the development of competent human capacities, deployment of technologies and equipment, mobilization of private capital, and execution of projects.
According to the statement which was signed by NCDMB General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, Ogunsanya remarked that ALCO would be officially launched at the 2026 African Union (AU) conference, in view of its strategic importance to continent’s economy.
Key to its plan is to institute close partnership with APPO and the African Energy Bank (AEB). The bank was recently set up by APPO to fund big ticket energy projects across the continent and bridge the funding gap impeding the development of key energy projects.
He explained that members of the organization are well positioned to execute key scopes of the projects that would be financed by the Energy Bank. This would guarantee value and spend retention in the continent, helping to catalyze the economy.
Other key objectives of the forum include facilitating exchange of knowledge and capacities among African energy service companies, enabling collaboration on projects, and growing Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP).
His words: “Through the forum we can carry out benchmark studies, join forces to solve industry problems. It is also a forum where African energy service companies can link up and find partners across the continent. It would enable the exchange of equipment and partnership on major industry projects. As Namibia or any other African country develops energy projects, you can count on your African brothers to share our over 70 years knowledge and experience in the oil and gas industry.”
While the PETAN Chairman will serve as the interim chair of ALCO, Mr. Ibrahim Talla from Senegal will serve as the Secretary.
Apparently pleased with the development, Ogbe described ALCO as a key platform for advancing African local content.
The NCDMB helmsman who was represented at the conference by the Director, Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu reiterated the vital roles the Board played in the establishment of the African Energy Bank just as he assured that the Board would continue to promote African local content and extend every possible assistance to ALCO.
