The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Felix Ogbe, has called on leading Nigerian oil and gas service providers to direct more of their expertise and investments into the deepwater segment of the industry, where global opportunities are expanding.
Ogbe made this appeal during an inspection tour of the facilities of West African Ventures Nigeria Limited (WAV) at the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne, Rivers State. The tour covered the company’s fabrication yard, machine shop, and jetties. He stressed that while Nigerian firms have established their presence in onshore and shallow-water operations, they must now look ahead to offshore and deepwater projects where international oil majors are steadily shifting focus.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the NCDMB’s General Manager of Corporate Communications, Mr. Obinna Ezeobi, Ogbe praised WAV’s facilities and its long-standing contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. He described the company as a model of local capacity and proof that indigenous players are capable of handling more complex offshore assignments.
“You have worked hard; you are a very good company,” Ogbe said, recalling his days as a construction manager at Chevron Nigeria Limited, when he awarded WAV its first offshore pipe-laying contract. According to him, the project was executed to satisfaction and confirmed the company’s capacity.
Ogbe noted that the infrastructure he saw at WAV’s Onne base reflected world-class standards. “What I have seen today is an eye-opener. You have a 50mm rolling mill; you have ocean-going vessels; you have a good fabrication yard; load-out equipment like the JASCON 8; and a crane with a 160-ton capacity. With these, WAV should participate more actively in offshore and deepwater operations, because all the big players are moving there,” he said.
The NCDMB boss further explained that all contracts in the oil and gas industry are awarded through competitive bidding. He assured that Nigerian companies have the technical capacity and operational experience to compete with international firms in deepwater projects, adding that the board remains committed to transparency and professionalism.
Responding, the Managing Director of WAV, Mr. Michael Amaeshike, highlighted the company’s more than four decades of operations, which he said have demonstrated the strength of Nigerian capacity in the oil and gas services industry. He noted that WAV has delivered several critical projects while also shaping the careers of professionals across engineering, maritime, procurement, and construction.
“West African Ventures has consistently portrayed local content the way it should be,” Amaeshike said. He pointed out that the company recently delivered a major infrastructure project for a marginal field operator, showcasing its ability to handle complex tasks.
Also speaking, WAV’s Fabrication Manager, Mr. Chimeziri Onwukwe, gave a technical overview of the company’s services. He explained that WAV is involved in the fabrication of platforms, jackets, modules, tanks, and other vital oil and gas structures. The company’s integrated operations are supported by advanced pipe profiling and plate-cutting machines, as well as an offshore base that provides logistics and marine load-out services.
Onwukwe, however, lamented that despite the company’s investments and track record, patronage from industry operators remains relatively low. He appealed to the NCDMB to increase awareness of WAV’s capabilities so that more projects can be directed to the company.
In response, Ogbe assured the company that the board would continue to promote indigenous firms with proven expertise, particularly as Nigeria seeks to expand its presence in the deepwater oil and gas space. He said that firms like WAV, which have invested in building capacity for decades, are strategically positioned to play key roles as the industry evolves.
Industry analysts say the call for stronger local participation in deepwater operations is timely. Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has been facing pressure to boost crude production, attract new investment, and increase value retention in-country. Experts believe that promoting indigenous firms with world-class capabilities can help Nigeria unlock growth, create jobs, and strengthen its energy sector.
For WAV, the renewed push from the NCDMB represents an opportunity to consolidate its legacy as one of Nigeria’s leading oil and gas service providers and to compete for bigger roles on the global stage.
