Mkpoikana Udoma
12 June 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Government has said that it is willing to partner Nigerians who intend to make landmark achievements through research in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this while commissioning a state-of-the-art laboratory for oil and gas research, built by an indigenous oil servicing firm, Laser Engineering Ltd, in Rumuodara, East-West Road, Port Harcourt.
Kachikwu said that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government is committed to reserving better opportunities in the oil and gas sector of the country for Nigerians.
He disclosed that President Buhari is expected to launch a programme to showcase indigenous entrepreneurs who are doing great in engineering, drilling and other areas.
According to him, “Research produces new dimensions to products and research development and that makes the oil and gas industry work better.
“The fact is that we are very committed to seeing that a larger part of the opportunities in the Nigerian oil and gas sector are enjoyed and indeed managed by Nigerians.
“It is my firm commitment and anybody doing something along that line has my buying. When the President launches project 100 in a month time we will see many Nigerian entrepreneurs who are doing fantastic jobs in engineering, drilling and other areas,” the Minister said.
Earlier, the Managing Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Laser Engineering Ltd, Prof. Mike Onyekonwu, said the initiative was a modest contribution to the effort of the government in establishing research institutes.
Onyekonwu said that Laser Engineering Ltd can help government characterised oil and gas fluids and obtain fingerprints.