Simbi Wabote’s 10-Year Roadmap: How Nigeria Achieved 54% Local Content Growth

When Simbi Wabote assumed leadership of Nigeria’s Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in 2016, he inherited an oil industry where local participation had stagnated. Nigerian companies captured merely 18% of oil and gas sector value, while foreign operators dominated the lucrative segments of Africa’s largest petroleum economy.

Rather than pursuing ad hoc interventions, Simbi Wabote developed a comprehensive 10-year strategic roadmap that would systematically transform Nigeria’s energy sector. By the time he concluded his tenure in December 2023, local content had surged to 54% — a remarkable achievement that positioned Nigeria ahead of its original trajectory toward 70% local content by 2027.

“When I took over the board’s, local content attainment in Nigeria was roughly about 18%, but our strategic goal was to take it to 70% in 10 years time. And before I left in 2023, we had achieved 54%,” Wabote explained in a 2024 interview, clarifying that the ambitious targets originated from his strategic framework rather than political mandates.

The roadmap represented more than wishful thinking — it constituted a methodical approach to industrial transformation backed by measurable initiatives and institutional accountability.

The Strategic Assessment

Wabote’s first step involved commissioning a comprehensive study of NCDMB’s existing achievements since its 2010 establishment. He brought in KPMG to conduct this analysis, recognizing that effective planning required understanding both past successes and remaining gaps.

“I had to first understand what have they done, what have they achieved? So carried out a comprehensive study, brought in KPMG to help me understand what they have done since their establishment, and then how do we take it from there to where we want to be in 10 years time.”

This diagnostic phase revealed that while NCDMB had established important regulatory frameworks, systematic implementation remained inconsistent. The oil industry continued to default to familiar international contractors, and Nigerian companies lacked both the technical capabilities and financing mechanisms to compete effectively.

Based on this assessment, Wabote’s team developed the 10-year Strategic Roadmap, setting clear targets and timelines for achieving 70% local content by 2027. The roadmap was formally presented to NCDMB’s Governing Council in December 2017, receiving official endorsement for implementation.

The Five-Pillar Framework

The roadmap’s architecture rested on five strategic pillars, each addressing critical aspects of local content development:

• Technical Capability Development focused on extending and deepening in-country technical capabilities in the oil and gas industry.

• Compliance and Enforcement ensured that local content implementation was enhanced through appropriate tools, policies, and frameworks.

• Enabling Business Environment aimed to facilitate a commercially viable business environment that encouraged increased sector investment.

• Organizational Capability built effective internal structures in terms of people, skills, processes, and systems to support NCDMB’s operations.

• Sectorial and Regional Market Linkages increased industry contribution to national GDP and facilitated access of Nigerian-made goods and services to regional markets.

The Four Critical Enablers

Supporting these pillars were four enablers that provided the foundation for implementation:

• Funding addressed the persistent challenge of accessing affordable capital.

• Regulatory Environment created an enabling legal and regulatory framework.

• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement developed strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders.

• Research and Statistics promoted evidence-driven interventions through relevant and reliable data.

Implementation Methodology

The roadmap translated these strategic concepts into 96 specific initiatives grouped by implementation timeframe: immediate/short-term (0-2 years), medium-term (3-5 years), and long-term (6-10 years). Each initiative was assigned to specific directorates, divisions, and departments within NCDMB for execution.

Wabote established a Project Management Office to track implementation progress, ensuring that the roadmap didn’t become another bureaucratic document gathering dust. The initiatives were incorporated into individual scorecards across the organization, creating personal accountability for delivery.

Measurable Progress

The roadmap’s effectiveness became evident through consistent progress tracking. Out of 96 initiatives under the strategic roadmap, NCDMB completed 77 initiatives by the end of 2022 — an 80% completion rate.

The Board delivered a Nigerian Content level of 54% in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, well above the target set for the fifth year of the roadmap. This represented a 36 percentage point increase from the 18% baseline when Wabote assumed leadership.

Strategic Integration

The roadmap’s success stemmed from its integration across NCDMB’s various functions. Capacity building, regulatory enforcement, business environment improvements, and organizational development worked synergistically rather than in silos.

For example, the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund supported technical capability by enabling equipment acquisitions and manufacturing investments. Service Level Agreements complemented compliance efforts by creating predictable regulatory processes.

The Institutional Legacy

Perhaps most significantly, Wabote embedded the roadmap into NCDMB’s institutional DNA through formal planning processes and performance measurement systems. The strategic framework became part of the organization’s official planning documents, ensuring continuity beyond individual leadership tenures.

“It was my ten-year strategic roadmap that I set up to achieve 70% local content,” Wabote emphasized, distinguishing his systematic approach from political pronouncements or temporary campaigns.

The roadmap’s methodology has influenced policy development beyond Nigeria, with multiple African countries studying NCDMB’s framework for potential adaptation.

Sustaining the Trajectory

Simbi Wabote’s 10-year roadmap demonstrated that sustained local content growth requires more than regulatory pressure or political will — it demands systematic planning, institutional capacity, and disciplined execution. The achievement of 54% local content by 2023 validated this methodical approach to industrial transformation.

Whether Nigeria reaches the 70% target by 2027 will depend on continued adherence to the roadmap’s systematic approach. The 36 percentage point improvement during Wabote’s tenure provides a strong foundation for achieving the ultimate goal.

The roadmap stands as a model for how developing countries can systematically build industrial capacity in complex, capital-intensive sectors through strategic planning and institutional discipline.