NCDMB Propels Local Companies Shift to Challenging Oil Fields Operations
By NaijaEnquirer Staff
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to building the capacity of indigenous oil and gas companies, urging them to pivot towards complex offshore and deepwater operations where vast opportunities await.
Encouraging Indigenous Capacity
During a facility tour of West African Ventures (WAV) Nigeria Limited at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne, Rivers State, on September 16, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, praised the company’s advanced infrastructure and capabilities. He recalled awarding WAV its first offshore pipe-laying contract during his tenure at Chevron Nigeria Limited, noting that the project was executed satisfactorily.
“You have worked hard; you are a very good company. What I have seen today is an eye-opener, and your capabilities are impressive,”Ogbe said.
Advanced Facilities and Offshore Readiness
The NCDMB boss highlighted WAV’s assets, including a 50mm rolling mill, ocean-going vessels, fabrication yard, load-out equipment such as JASCON 8, and a 160-tonne crane. He emphasized that such facilities position the company to transition into offshore operations.
“All the big players in the oil and gas industry are going to deepwater. WAV and other strong Nigerian firms should begin to participate,”he urged.
Transparency and Competitive Bidding
Ogbe stressed that all oil and gas projects will continue to follow competitive bidding processes, reaffirming NCDMB’s stance on transparency and professionalism. He expressed confidence that Nigerian companies now have the capacity to compete effectively in deepwater projects.
WAV’s Contribution to Local Content
Michael Dumbi Amaeshike, Managing Director of WAV, welcomed the NCDMB delegation, noting that the company has been a trusted service provider in the oil and gas industry for over 40 years. He described WAV as a “proud Nigerian company that portrays local content the way it should be.”
He added that many industry professionals in critical subsectors such as maritime, engineering, procurement, and construction began their careers with WAV. The company, he revealed, had also recently delivered a major infrastructure project for a marginal field operator.
Fabrication, Technology, and Challenges
Chimeziri Onwukwe, Manager of Fabrication at WAV, outlined the company’s core activities, including the fabrication of platforms, jackets, modules, tanks, and offshore structures. He explained that WAV also provides logistics support and marine load-out services, in addition to investing in cutting-edge pipe profiling and plate-cutting technologies.
However, Onwukwe appealed for greater industry recognition and support from the NCDMB, pointing out that despite WAV’s significant investments and proven track record, patronage has remained limited.
NCDMB Delegation
The NCDMB team on the facility tour included: Abayomi Bamidele, Director, Capacity Building; Ossaowa Andrew Uchendu, Acting Director, Finance and Personnel Management; Barr. Naboth Onyeso, Acting Director, Legal Services; Ene Ette, General Manager, Planning, Research and Statistics; and Suleiman Ozimede, General Manager, Facilities and Logistics.
