A law firm Tim Leburu & Co has submitted a formal request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act for detailed records on Local Services Plans (LSPs) filed by oil and gas industry operators.
The letter, dated November 10, 2025, and addressed to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), seeks certified copies of all LSPs submitted by operators, contractors, and other entities for 2024 and 2025. LSPs are mandatory annual submissions under Section 51 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (2010), detailing plans to procure legal services from Nigerian firms and practitioners.
Signed by Daniel Kip, Principal Partner and Notary Public at Tim Leburu & Co, the request emphasizes the Act’s goal of fostering measurable and sustainable growth in Nigerian content. It specifically targets LSPs that outline budgets for legal services, ensuring at least 70% of procurement goes to indigenous firms.
The firm also seeks:
Invoking Section 1(1) of the 2011 FOI Act, which guarantees public access to government-held information, Kip urged the NCDMB to respond within 14 working days, warning that any denial must be justified in writing.
Observers say the request could reveal whether multinational oil companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron are meeting localization targets, potentially exposing gaps in legal service procurement favoring foreign firms.
The NCDMB has not yet publicly responded. Executive Secretary Simbi Wabote had previously noted that over 80% of operators complied with content development plans in 2024 audits, though critics argue enforcement often sidelines smaller Nigerian firms.
“This is about ensuring every Nigerian legal service provider gets a fair shot in the industry,” Kip stated, highlighting the firm’s credentials as a licensed Nigerian practice.