Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, has stated that Nigeria’s local content must be redefined to drive development.
Speaking at the 13th Annual Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum, the senator said that Nigeria must move beyond capacity building to realize its full potential and take its place on the world stage.
According to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Nigerian content implementation must include innovation, sustainability, collaboration, and market development to promote a comprehensive transformation across sectors.
“Let’s redefine Nigerian content as more than just the transfer of skills and the localisation of supply chains in the oil and gas sector. Instead, we must view it as a comprehensive framework for national development.
“Nigerian content should focus on creating value, achieving self-reliance, and establishing a legacy of global competitiveness. Nigeria’s challenges — ranging from unemployment to dependence on foreign technology and underutilised resources—demand a more dynamic approach.
“To pave this new frontier, I propose we focus on four core areas: Policy refinement and strategic enforcement, building competitive ecosystems, value chain optimisation and global market integration.
“As we expand the scope of Nigerian content, sustainability must be at the core. environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles should guide every decision.”