Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has charged West African Ventures, WAV, Nigeria Limited and other leading indigenous service companies to pivot into deepwater oil and gas operations, where vast opportunities are opening up.
Ogbe gave the charge during a facility tour of WAV’s Fabrication Yard, Machine Shop, and jetties at the Federal Ocean Terminal, FOT, Onne, Rivers State.
“All the big players in the oil and gas industry are going to deepwater,” the NCDMB boss said.
“Projects are by competitive bidding and NCDMB stands for transparency and professionalism, but I believe indigenous companies have what it takes to participate effectively in the deepwater space.”
Ogbe, who recalled awarding WAV its first offshore pipe-laying contract during his time as Construction Manager with Chevron Nigeria Limited, said he was impressed by the firm’s current capacity.
“You have worked hard; you are a very good company. You have a 50mm rolling mill; you have ocean-going vessels; apart from that you have a good yard to do fabrication, good load-out equipment like the JASCON 8, and a crane with a tonnage of 160.”
According to him, WAV’s capabilities position it to compete strongly for upcoming projects in Nigeria’s deep offshore segment, which is fast becoming the hub of new investments.
Earlier, Managing Director of WAV, Mr. Michael Dumbi Amaeshike, expressed appreciation at the visit, stressing that his company had been a service provider in the oil and gas industry for over four decades.
“We have been a showcase for what it takes to have a proud Nigerian company that portrays local content the way it should be,” Amaeshike said.
“Many personnel occupying critical positions in different subsectors, maritime, engineering, procurement, and construction, are products of our company.”
He revealed that WAV had recently completed a major infrastructural project for a marginal field operator and continues to invest heavily in technology, including integrated pipe profiling and plate-cutting machines.
In his presentation, the company’s Fabrication Manager, Engr. Chimeziri Onwukwe, explained that WAV was actively involved in the fabrication of platforms, jackets, modules, tanks, and other industry structures.
“We are not only fabricating but have an offshore base where we provide logistics assistance and load-out to all marine activities,” he said, while appealing for stronger industry patronage.
