President Bola Tinubu has urged international oil companies operating in Nigeria to give competent Nigerian engineering and manufacturing firms greater opportunities to take part in major energy projects.
The President spoke on Thursday while receiving the Founder and Chairman of Lee Engineering Group, Leemon Ikpea, at the State House, Abuja.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed details of the engagement in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu Backs Nigerian Engineering as Local Firm Builds Compressor Stations to Unlock Escravos–Lagos Pipeline’s 2.3 Billion Cubic Feet Daily Gas Capacity’.
Lee Engineering is carrying out the engineering, procurement and construction of two midline compressor stations in Edo State.
Onanuga said the stations were needed to raise operating pressure on the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System so that it could deliver at its full capacity of 2.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas a day. The designed capacity of the pipeline was raised from 1.1 billion under the ELPS II expansion.
The statement said the project was expected to strengthen gas supply to power plants and industries along the corridor and increase supplies to neighbouring West African countries through the West African Gas Pipeline, creating opportunities for additional export revenue.
“President Tinubu said Nigeria First must translate into more contracts for capable Nigerian firms, greater use of locally manufactured equipment and more skilled jobs for Nigerians. He encouraged international oil companies to build stronger partnerships with indigenous engineering companies that have demonstrated the capacity to deliver complex projects.
“He also pointed to his administration’s 2024 executive orders and presidential directives on local content compliance, contracting costs, and approval timelines as measures to attract investment, cut delays, and expand opportunities for Nigerian businesses,” he stated.
Tinubu reaffirmed his determination to unlock Nigeria’s gas resources to power industries, improve electricity supply, create jobs and boost export earnings. He said his Nigeria First policy must translate into more contracts for capable Nigerian firms, greater use of locally manufactured equipment and more skilled jobs for Nigerians.
He encouraged the international oil companies to build stronger partnerships with indigenous engineering firms that had shown they could deliver complex projects.
Ikpea commended the policy and said Lee Engineering’s fabrication yard in Warri, Delta State, was making some components for the compressor stations.
He said the yard housed some of the most advanced fabrication equipment in the industry.
He noted that Nigerian companies had invested heavily in equipment, technology and skilled personnel and could now undertake complex projects previously handled by foreign contractors, keeping more jobs, expertise and economic value in the country.