The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has warned oil companies against employing unregistered engineers.

The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, gave this directive at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair organised by the board in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

According to him, only engineers certified by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria should be engaged for contracts.

Ogbe said the law does not permit any engineer who is not registered with COREN to practice in Nigeria.

He said COREN is aware that many engineers working in the oil and gas sector are not registered with COREN.

Ogbe appealed to both international and indigenous oil companies to ensure that only registered individuals are engaged in their engineering works.

“Let me remind us that only engineers and engineering firms that are registered with COREN in Nigeria are eligible to practise in Nigeria.

“It has come to the notice of COREN that lots of engineers working in the Nigerian oil and gas industry are not registered with the council. By law, every engineer working or practising in Nigeria should be registered with COREN.

“I appeal to the IOCs and indigenous oil companies to make efforts by reaching out to COREN and partner with COREN to make sure that registrations are done,” he said.

Speaking at the fair themed, ‘Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a sustainable Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development’, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, said the commission has unveiled a sweeping agenda for deepening indigenous capacity and strengthening investor confidence as part of a wider push for transformation and sustainability in Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum sector.

Komolafe, represented by the Executive Commissioner for Health, Safety, Environment and Community, John Tonlagha, emphasised the need to reposition Nigeria’s oil and gas industry through robust upstream investments, regulatory transparency, and infrastructure development to attract both local and foreign investors.

According to him, investors must have confidence in the legal and fiscal frameworks to ensure sustainable production and growth.

He outlined the NUPRC’s mission, which centred on sustainable value creation and shared prosperity. Developing local talent and businesses is a strategic necessity and moral obligation.

He further stressed that while pursuing investment and growth, industry operators must not lose sight of their responsibility to the environment.