Nigeria’s oil and gas fabrication sector has achieved a significant milestone, now exceeding domestic demand and positioning the nation as a potential exporter of fabrication services to other African countries and the Middle East. This was revealed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) during the launch of a 12-month Nigerian Content Non-Compliance (NC-NC) Remediation Training Programme in Yenagoa.
“We now have excess capacity in terms of fabrication in-country; we are exporting…outside this country,” stated Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile, General Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, representing NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe. This achievement marks a crucial step in the NCDMB’s 10-Year Strategic Road Map, initiated in 2017, aimed at boosting local content in the oil and gas sector from 26% in 2017 to 70% by 2027.
The journey to this point has been transformative. At the NCDMB’s inception in 2010, Nigeria’s fabrication capacity was less than 50,000 metric tonnes annually. By 2017, this had surged to over 228,000 metric tonnes, and has continued to grow. This growth has dramatically reduced the need for imported line pipes and materials, retaining capital within the country and creating numerous employment opportunities.
Fabrication yards across Nigeria are now providing a range of services, including shipbuilding, steel structure erection, and metal frame fabrication. Key players in this sector include Nigerdock Nigeria Plc, Dorman Long Engineering, and Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria, among others.
“We are not at 300,000 jobs yet, but we have done very well,” Mr. Ogbe stated, referring to the NCDMB’s broader goal of creating 300,000 jobs within the oil and gas industry and its related sectors, such as power and construction. He also noted that NCDMB-trained Nigerians are now employed in various African nations, showcasing the quality and relevance of the training programs.
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The Remediation Training Programme, sponsored by Waltersmith Petroleum Oil Limited and delivered by Dexterous Applied Training Institute, is designed to enhance local skills. The program encompasses general courses like entrepreneurship, ICT, and safety, as well as specialized training in instrumentation and control engineering, quality assurance, and process engineering. The current cohort of 23 participants, out of 52 selected, will receive general training at the NCDMB Learning Centre in Yenagoa and specialized hands-on training in Port Harcourt.
The NCDMB’s role extends beyond regulation; it acts as a business enabler, dedicated to fostering local content growth and driving economic expansion. This initiative underscores Nigeria’s increasing self-reliance and its potential to become a key player in the regional oil and gas fabrication market.
