‘The Nation must redefine local content to drive devt’

The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP, Kogi Central) has said Nigeria must redefine its local content to drive development. Speaking at the 13th Annual Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) forum, the senator said Nigeria must look beyond capacity building to unlock its full potential and claim its place on the global […]

The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP, Kogi Central) has said Nigeria must redefine its local content to drive development.

Speaking at the 13th Annual Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) forum, the senator said Nigeria must look beyond capacity building to unlock its full potential and claim its place on the global stage.

The Kogi senator said Nigerian content implementation must encompass innovation, sustainability, collaboration, and market expansion to drive a holistic 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.”