Tinubu tell oil companies make dem give Nigerian firms more energy contracts

President Bola Tinubu don ask international oil companies (IOCs) wey dey work for Nigeria make dem open more of dia big energy projects to Nigerian engineering and manufacturing companies wey fit do di work.

He make di call on Thursday for State House for Abuja while e host Leemon Ikpea, founder and chairman of Lee Engineering Group, according to statement from presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

Di meeting happen as Lee Engineering dey work on two compressor stations for Edo State. Di stations suppose lift pressure on di Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System so e go fit carry im full 2.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas a day.

Dem raise di pipeline design capacity from 1.1 billion under di ELPS II expansion, but di compressors still dey needed for am to actually deliver dat volume.

Why e matter pass di pipeline

Gas from dat corridor dey feed power plants and factories, so more pressure mean more fuel for electricity and industry. Dem still expect di project to support gas exports to neighbouring West African countries through di West African Gas Pipeline, wey fit bring extra revenue.

For ordinary Nigerians, di bigger promise inside Tinubu message na work. Di President talk say im Nigeria First policy suppose show as more contracts for capable local firms, more locally made equipment and more skilled jobs.

He urge di oil majors make dem team up with Nigerian engineering companies wey don prove say dem fit handle complex projects. He still point to im administration 2024 executive orders and presidential directives on local content, contracting costs and approval timelines, talk say dem mean to draw investment, cut delays and widen opportunities for Nigerian businesses.

Tinubu restate im plan to develop di country gas resources to power industries, improve electricity supply, create jobs and earn more from exports.

Ikpea praise di policy and talk say Lee Engineering fabrication yard for Warri, Delta State, dey produce some parts for di compressor stations. He describe di yard as one wey get some of di most advanced fabrication equipment for di industry.

He add say Nigerian firms don put serious money into equipment, technology and skilled staff, and dem fit now take on complex engineering, procurement and construction work wey foreign contractors bin dey handle before. Doing so, he talk, dey keep more jobs, know-how and economic value inside di country.

Di statement no talk when di compressor stations go finish or how much dem go cost.