In a renewed effort to sanitize Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and boost indigenous professional standards, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has declared that engineers who are not certified by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) will no longer be allowed to work in the country’s oil sector.
The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, made this announcement at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Ogbe emphasized that the use of uncertified engineers violates existing laws and puts the integrity of vital oil and gas operations at risk.
“It has come to COREN’s attention that many engineers currently operating within the Nigerian oil and gas sector are not duly registered,” Ogbe said. “By law, all engineers and engineering firms practicing in Nigeria must be registered with COREN. Oil companies—both international and local—must comply with this legal requirement moving forward.”
According to the NCDMB chief, the board is working closely with COREN to facilitate a proper registration framework that ensures only qualified professionals are permitted to engage in oil-related projects. Ogbe encouraged oil firms to proactively collaborate with COREN to streamline the certification process and eliminate non-compliance.
The two-day fair, themed “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development”, also featured key stakeholders highlighting the need for increased local content participation and regulatory reform.
Delivering a keynote at the event, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, outlined a strategic roadmap aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity, promoting sustainable investments, and rebuilding investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
Komolafe, represented by John Tonlagha, NUPRC’s Executive Commissioner for Health, Safety, Environment and Community, emphasized the importance of robust legal frameworks and fiscal discipline as catalysts for sustainable production growth.
“We are committed to building a petroleum industry where local talent thrives and foreign investors are assured of stability and transparency. Indigenous capacity development is not just a strategy—it is a necessity,” Tonlagha stated.
The NCDMB and NUPRC further echoed the need for oil companies to prioritize health, safety, and environmental practices. The leadership urged firms to not only invest in certified personnel but also in infrastructure and technologies that align with global best practices. This includes compliance with emission control, community engagement, and risk management frameworks.
Tonlagha stressed that the oil industry’s future must align with global sustainability goals. “As we attract more investments, we must remain environmentally responsible and committed to community development,” he noted.
Industry watchers have lauded the NCDMB’s position, noting that stricter enforcement of professional certification will enhance project safety, reduce operational failures, and raise Nigeria’s global standing in the petroleum engineering field. However, some stakeholders have called for a grace period to allow existing engineers in the system to register with COREN without jeopardizing ongoing projects.
Analysts believe the new policy will also drive professional development within engineering faculties and institutions across the country, creating a stronger link between academia and industry needs.
The Nigerian government, through the NCDMB and its sister agencies, is making deliberate strides toward strengthening professionalism and encouraging sustainable investment in the oil and gas sector. As the country continues to push for energy transition, job creation, and technological growth, ensuring that only qualified and certified personnel handle critical projects is both a timely and strategic move.
With enforcement likely to begin in the coming months, oil firms and engineers alike are expected to comply with the new mandate or risk exclusion from the lucrative sector.