Oilserv Limited reinforced its status as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry at the 2025 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the event brought together over 1,000 stakeholders to advance investment, policy dialogue, and local content development. For Oilserv, the fair was not just an exhibition; it was a platform to underscore its longstanding commitment to building Nigeria’s energy future through indigenous excellence.

At the NCDMB Spotlight Session, Engr. Cheta Okwuosa, Group General Manager of Commercial and Business Development, represented Oilserv’s Chairman and Group CEO, Engr. Dr. Emeka Okwuosa, CON. He presented a compelling narrative of Oilserv’s 30-year journey from a construction company to a full-spectrum EPCIC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Commissioning) solutions provider. Highlighting the contributions of key subsidiaries like Frazimex Engineering and Crown Energy Resources, Okwuosa detailed how Oilserv has organically built an all-African workforce capable of delivering turnkey solutions across the energy value chain.

Oilserv’s suite of services spans pipeline construction, project management, 3D laser scanning, HDD, HTB, AUT, asset integrity, and emergency repair solutions. The company’s EPCIC capabilities are now complemented by power solutions, LPG, LNG, CNG, and the construction of several power plants across Nigeria. “Our drive is to deliver end-to-end solutions from conceptual studies to commissioning, with indigenous talent and global standards,” Okwuosa stated.

Oilserv’s impact is measurable. The company has completed 19 major pipeline projects totaling 933 kilometers, executed 76 pipeline leak repairs, built 28 above-ground facilities, and performed 18 major HDD river crossings, including the River Niger. Its record of 84 successful Horizontal Thrust Boring operations further underscores its technical depth.

Currently executing the OE&M scope for the Ihovbor metering station’s power supply, Oilserv has also played a key role in security partnerships, community engagement, and critical environmental remediation projects, most notably, the ongoing Ogoni clean-up in collaboration with HYPREP. These milestones reflect not only technical capacity but also responsible corporate citizenship.

As a champion of the Nigerian Content Development Act, Oilserv’s commitment to local empowerment is unmatched. With a workforce of approximately 2,000 – 99.6% of whom are Nigerians and Africans, the company exemplifies what indigenous leadership in energy should look like. Through its Graduate Training Programme (GTP) and Technical Training Scheme (TTS), Oilserv has trained over 250 engineers and technicians since 2008. About 75% of graduates are absorbed into the company, with the rest strengthening the broader industry.

Oilserv’s plans to formalize its training programs into a full-fledged technical institute are already underway, aiming to produce world-class welders, fitters, and operators. Regarding community collaborations, between 2020 and 2024 alone, the company awarded over 600 contracts to local vendors, 122 of which exceeded ₦250 million, strengthening Nigeria’s supplier ecosystem.

Oilserv’s client portfolio includes NNPC, NLNG, SPDC, OANDO, TotalEnergies, etc, industry leaders that demand excellence. One highlight of the fair was the recognition of Oilserv’s role in constructing West Africa’s largest pipeline (OB3 Gas Pipeline project of 48-inch in diameter), entirely with local expertise. These achievements reflect the true value of local content: retaining economic value within Nigeria while delivering on global best practices. “We are not just supporting local content; we are shaping it,” said Engr. Cheta Okwuosa. “We believe the time for talk is over. It’s time to collaborate and deliver sustainable, high-impact oil and gas solutions driven by Nigerian capability.”

Oilserv’s participation at NOGOF 2025 echoed the fair’s theme: “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry Through Indigenous Capacity Development.” The company’s initiatives directly support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the strategic vision outlined by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. As Nigeria shifts toward bankable, de-risked, and scalable energy projects, Oilserv stands out as a reliable partner, already delivering on the ground with proven capacity and a clear commitment to national transformation.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), delivered a resolute message: “The time for excuses is over.” Backed by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the minister emphasized that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is undergoing a strategic transformation focused on growth, accountability, and national development. Lokpobiri outlined a new direction built on bold reforms, streamlining bureaucracy, fast-tracking approvals, and rebuilding investor trust. With executive orders enhancing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Nigeria is no longer in the business of begging for investment. The sector is now positioned to offer bankable, low-risk, and sustainable investment opportunities across Africa’s most dynamic energy market.

The minister tied this vision to three actionable pillars:

1. Increased Investment – Unlocking exploration, reviving dormant assets, and upgrading infrastructure.
2. Crude Oil Production Growth – Boosting reserves, stabilizing the economy, and strengthening energy security.
3. Indigenous Capacity Development – Prioritizing local talent, enterprises, and innovation to retain long-term value.

He described NOGOF not just as a fair but as a “national platform for catalytic investments,” showcasing ready-to-execute projects across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors—all with a strong local content focus.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, declared that Nigerian content has evolved from aspiration to full-scale execution. He pointed to the rise of ISO-certified fabrication yards in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Lagos, modular refineries in Imo and Delta States, and the growth of indigenous capabilities from pipe mills to marine vessel ownership. “Nigerians are no longer just participants; they’re now top-tier deliverers,” Ogbe stated.

He emphasized that NOGOF 2025 is especially significant, as it marks 15 years since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010. The event, he said, will highlight tangible opportunities across the oil and gas value chain while fostering strategic partnerships between local and international investors. It will also provide stakeholders with reliable insights into upcoming projects. “Since the Board’s inception, we’ve pursued a 10-year roadmap to strengthen local participation. The results speak for themselves, we’ve moved from just 5% in-country value retention in 2010 to 56% as of December 2024.”

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri, through his deputy, called for amendments to the PIA to formally involve state governments in managing development projects in host communities. He argued that most host communities lack the institutional capacity to manage and implement complex development initiatives on their own. Involving state governments, he explained, would strengthen project planning, enhance accountability, and help prevent conflict. “The PIA as it stands gives us no responsibility, only liability,” Diri stated. “When international oil companies (IOCs) bypass the state and engage directly with communities, many of which lack stable structures, it opens the door to tension and breakdowns. Indigenous operators who’ve inherited these assets are following the same path.” He thereafter called on the National Assembly to consider revising the PIA to assign formal roles to state governments in the development process, arguing that inclusion, not exclusion, is key to sustainable peace and progress in the oil-rich Niger Delta.