By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has issued new guidance notes on the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) to curb abuse in the oil and gas contracting process, warning that unmerited possession and misuse of the certificates during tendering cause delays and allow unqualified intermediaries into contracts.
According to the Board, the document is designed to address persistent challenges such as multiple or single NCEC applications that are not backed by real capacity, submission of forged or fake documents, under-declaration of personnel, and claims of non-existent offices or equipment. NCDMB said the guidance would also help genuine service companies secure faster approval by clearly outlining all requirements needed to submit credible applications at the first attempt.
The eight approved NCEC categories are Manufacturing and Related Services (MS), Fabrication and Construction (FC), Construction and Moveable Equipment (EC), Services and Support (SS), Quality Control Inspection and Testing (QS), Non-Moveable Assets (DA), Procurement and Supplies (PS), and Consultancy Services (CS).
Service companies were advised to apply strictly within their specific areas of competence and to provide adequate supporting evidence for the chosen NCEC category through the online application portal. NCDMB further clarified that no payment is required for the application, processing, or approval of NCECs or any related certification.
In line with the Presidential directive on local content compliance, the Board reiterated that the use of agents, middlemen, or third parties in submitting NCEC applications is prohibited. It stressed that companies registered on the NOGIC-JQS portal are fully responsible for all documents and claims submitted using their login credentials.
The guidance notes also state that parent companies, subsidiaries, or local partners cannot obtain separate NCECs using the same facilities, equipment, assets, or documentation, adding that NCECs are non-transferable and cannot be used by another company.
NCDMB warned that applications outside a company’s core service area slow down the processing of legitimate requests and may attract sanctions if deemed abusive. Companies seeking multiple NCECs must demonstrate sufficient assets, facilities, equipment, and personnel for each category, as the Board will conduct facility inspections to verify claimed capacities.
The Board emphasized that NCECs are not issued based on proposed or anticipated investments but on existing, functional assets and equipment with dedicated resources already in operation. Applicants must therefore be ready to demonstrate ownership, availability, and operability of assets during verification visits.
Requests to upgrade or add services to an existing, valid NCEC will be treated as fresh applications and subjected to full verification. Applicants were urged to provide complete and accurate information to enable timely review.
The document also outlined services exempted from NCEC requirements, including GSM operators, commercial airlines, educational institutions, legal advisory services, public relations and event management firms, government agencies, and community-based CSR vendors.
Speaking on the new guidance, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, urged oil and gas stakeholders to carefully study the document before applying. He warned that submission of forged or falsified documents is a criminal offence that will attract legal action as well as administrative sanctions from the Board.
Ogbe added that NCDMB has established target timelines for reviewing NCEC applications, with the portal providing timestamps for all submissions and review stages to enhance transparency and accountability.
