As half measures to advertise Nigerian native content material via real participation and empowerment of oil producing communities, a involved group – the Nigerian Native Content material Convention (NLCC) has requested the federal authorities to grant oil bearing states concession to amass oil blocks within the forthcoming 2026 oil block bid rounds.
It additionally urged President Bola Tinubu to make use of his good places of work to approve the seeding of 20 p.c fairness allocation to Nigerians per a state within the 50 oil blocks being put up throughout 2026 oil bloc licencing rounds.
Among the many requests put ahead by the stakeholders below the auspices of the Nigerian Native Content material Convention (NLCC) are that the president ought to contemplate granting oil producing states concessions to personal stakes in oil blocks being provided for bids
They’re additionally demanding for the seeding of 20 p.c fairness holding for host communities within the oil wealthy Nigeria Delta and different oil-bearing states.
Concerning the exploration of strong mineral deposits within the northern a part of the nation, they prompt that federal authorities ought to encourage youths’ participation via formation of cooperative {groups}.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Convener of NLCC and Africa Commodities Convention and Exhibition (ACCE), Michael Akueche stated the transfer allow Nigerians to reap the benefits of the native content material coverage of the federal authorities which seeks to provide consideration to indigenous operatorsgreater alternative to take part within the oil exploration and production enterprise.
Akueche stated that Nigeria has for years tried to vogue out methods of enhancing the lives of the individuals particularly these instantly struggling the environmental affect of oil and gasoline production within the Niger Delta space.
He stated that President Bola Tinubu has the chance of raking tens of millions of votes from the youth assist base throughout the nation if he grants the request which is meant to empower the huge inhabitants of Nigerians and provides them sense of belonging.
Akueche cited knowledge from the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which reveals that about 63 p.c of Nigerians, representing about 133 million individuals, reside in multidimensional poverty. He stated oil-producing states will not be exempt from this actuality.
He stated the engagement is anchored on social justice and {economic} prosperity for all, drawing reference from Psalm 82:2–4.
He additional famous that comparable exclusion patterns exist within the strong minerals sector, the place native professionals, engineers, geologists and artisanal miners stay outdoors structured possession frameworks regardless of working in resource-rich areas.
He stated: “the incorporation of the bigger numbers of the Nigerian individuals within the possession of oil and gasoline property will culminate in mitigating this widespread excessive and abject poverty amongst Nigerian inhabitants”.
As one of many stakeholders pushing for reforms in upstream petroleum governance and entry to strategic property, Akueche, who can also be the founding father of Mica Fairness Allocation Restricted, referred to as on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure that oil-producing communities and youths are intentionally included in future oil block licensing rounds and marginal subject allocations.
Akueche stated the persistent agitation within the Niger Delta is tied to the technical and structural exclusion of host communities from participation in possession and decision-making throughout the oil and gasoline worth chain.
He stated the problem goes past income sharing to entry and fairness in upstream alternatives.
Referring to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC) licensing spherical marketed on 1st December, 2025, which listed 50 oil blocks for aggressive bidding, Akueche stated that whereas worldwide traders are actively positioning for the property, indigenous communities in producing areas stay largely unorganised for structured participation.
He described this as a recurring hole in Nigeria’s extractive governance framework, the place communities bearing the affect of extraction are sometimes excluded from the industrial and technical buildings that outline possession.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo
Times Nigeria