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NCDMB Warns Oil Firms Against Hiring Unregistered Engineers, NUPRC Unveils Plan to Boost Local Capacity
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has issued a strong warning to oil and gas companies against employing engineers who are not duly registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
Speaking at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, emphasized that the law strictly prohibits unregistered individuals from practicing engineering in the country.
He urged both international oil companies (IOCs) and indigenous operators to ensure full compliance with COREN registration requirements.
“Let me remind everyone that only engineers and engineering firms registered with COREN are legally permitted to practice in Nigeria,” Ogbe stated. “It has come to the attention of COREN that many engineers currently working in the oil and gas industry are not registered. This is unacceptable and must be corrected.”
He called on stakeholders to partner with COREN to facilitate the registration of all practicing engineers, reinforcing that compliance is not optional but a legal mandate.
In a related development at the fair, which is themed “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development,” the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced new initiatives aimed at transforming the upstream sector.
The Chief Executive of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe—represented by the Executive Commissioner for Health, Safety, Environment, and Community, John Tonlagha—outlined a strategic agenda focused on boosting indigenous capacity, enhancing regulatory transparency, and building investor confidence.
According to Komolafe, attracting sustainable investment hinges on clear legal and fiscal frameworks that provide confidence to both domestic and international stakeholders.
He stressed that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry must be repositioned through robust upstream investments and infrastructure development.
“Our mission is centered on creating sustainable value and shared prosperity,” he said. “Developing local talent and businesses is not only a strategic priority but also a moral obligation.”
Komolafe also underscored the need for environmental responsibility, reminding operators that while growth and investment are critical, so too is the protection of the environment and host communities.