By Emmanuella Anokam and Nathan Nwakamma
Some indigenous oil and gas companies participating at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2025 have called for an enabling environment and patronage to enable them scale up their operations in the country.
The companies made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, at the NOGOF 2025, organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
They lauded the NCDMB for the implementation of the Nigerian content policy and support to indigenous companies to domicile the products they represent abroad.
The fair, with the theme, “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development” was officially declared open on Wednesday.
NOGOF aims to showcase opportunities in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry, and provide opportunities for foreign and local investors to build synergies in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
It also provides opportunities for Nigerian companies and prospective investors to showcase their capabilities, identify high impact activities for in-country value addition and develop a five-year roadmap to ensure sustainable Nigerian content development.
Speaking with NAN, Mr Oscar Ezechukwu, General Manager, Grephil International Ltd., an indigenous oil and gas servicing company, decried the lack of enabling environment, multiple taxation and government bureaucracies hindering operations of indigenous companies.
Ezechukwu, while calling on the government to waive or reduce import duties on raw materials and machineries purchased for production, also sought for the provision of effective power supply for effective operation.
He explained that the company, which manufactures statics equipment such as bolts, nuts, pipe clamps and split tees, was commissioned in 2021 by the NCDMB, which gave the company the platform to grow through its content policy.
“We started with having a franchise agreement with Tri-Star Industries in Singapore, with the bolts and nuts. And over the years, we have learned how to manufacture bolts and nuts in Nigeria, and stopped going to them.
“We have metamorphosed into manufacturing pipe clamps and split tees. These clamps are also accessories used in the oil and gas business and in the pipeline, while bolts and nuts are fasteners.
“The process of manufacturing the equipment and accessories is not easy, and we require an enabling environment to operate, stoppage of heavy taxation and frequent locking of company’s gates by government agencies due to tax.
“We are creating a lot of jobs and employment; it is discouraging that a young man will begin a production business and encounter challenges. We need encouragement from the Federal Government,” he said.
Also speaking, Head of Business Development, Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd., Augusta Awana, lauded the competency of the indigenous companies and appealed for a favourable environment to boost patronage, and avoid foreign reliance.
Awana, while decrying the over reliance and dependency on foreign counterparts in executing projects, expressed confidence in the capability of local companies taking over the space for oil and gas services in the country.
“We have competent personnel in Alfa Designs Ltd. who are trained by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to render the services locally instead of relying of foreign counterparts.
“We are participating in the NOGOF to meet key players in the oil and gas industry and showcase our services which include carbon footprint emission and reduction management systems.
“With a state of the art equipment, we provide asset integrity management, research development, engineering, procurement, installation and construction, well services, as well as maintenance and certification of pressure vessels among others,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the 2025 fair would enable the indigenous company to be more visible while executing contracts in the oil and gas sector.
In his views, Mr Michael Chibuokem of Praymerc Chemicals Nigeria Ltd. underscored the need to stop importation of foreign products and patronise indigenous companies.
According to him, Praymerc is a fully indigenous manufacturing company with a track record of producing high quality oil field chemicals called surfactants, used for drilling activities.
He said the indigenous companies needed encouragement and support to grow in production.
This, she said, would guarantee energy sufficiency in the sector and also propel the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Emmanuel Afonne