Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, says reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector have decisively eliminated middlemen and so-called “briefcase companies,” paving the way for genuine Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, operators to thrive.
Speaking on the sidelines of NIES2026 at the EPC Roundtable organised by the Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, the Minister said the government has implemented practical measures to ensure service providers fully leverage emerging opportunities in the sector.
According to him, “These measures have decisively eliminated middlemanism and the prevalence of so-called ‘briefcase companies’ that previously distorted operations, discouraged investment, and constrained growth for genuine operators.”
Lokpobiri explained that the reform agenda goes beyond attracting foreign players back into the market, stressing that the goal is to build a balanced and competitive ecosystem.
“Building on this progress, our ambition extends beyond simply wooing international EPCs back into the market,” he said.
He added that government has introduced targeted incentives and enabling policies designed to ensure fair competition and long-term value creation.
“Through targeted incentives and practical enabling measures, we are creating a balanced framework that allows international and indigenous EPCs to operate side by side, compete fairly, transfer skills, and jointly deliver sustainable growth across the value chain,” the Minister stated.
The Minister’s remarks signal a broader policy direction aimed at strengthening transparency, deepening local participation, and restoring investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream and midstream contracting environment.
The emphasis on eliminating rent-seeking intermediaries and encouraging direct engagement between operators and capable service providers could significantly reduce project costs and accelerate delivery timelines across the oil and gas value chain.
