The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local manufacturing in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, pledging to encourage industry operators to patronise Brentex Petroleum Services Limited’s $50 million Steel Pipe Induction Bending and Coating Facility under development at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne Port in Rivers State.
The Board described the project as a strategic investment that will deepen local content, reduce dependence on imported pipeline engineering services, and position Nigeria as a leading oil and gas manufacturing and engineering hub in Africa.
During an inspection tour of the facility, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, congratulated Brentex Petroleum Services on the progress made, describing the project as a practical demonstration of Nigeria’s growing industrial capabilities in the energy sector.
Represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile, Ogbe said the Board had worked with Brentex for more than a decade and commended the company’s commitment to investing in specialised infrastructure that supports the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
According to him, the facility represents a major step toward expanding in-country capacity for specialised pipeline engineering services while creating jobs, retaining industry value within Nigeria and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in Africa’s energy services market.
“We’ve been on this journey with Brentex for over a decade. Today, we’ve seen the significant progress on the project, which reflects exactly what the Board envisioned through its equipment component manufacturing initiative—driving value addition within Nigeria,” he said.
Ogbe also assured the company of the Board’s continued support, saying NCDMB would work with operators across the oil and gas industry to maximise utilisation of the facility once it becomes operational.
“We appreciate your investment in Nigeria and assure you of our continued support. We will also encourage industry players to take advantage of this in-country capacity because it is important that available local infrastructure is fully utilised,” he added.
Africa’s First Integrated Steel Pipe Bending and Coating Facility
The Brentex project is a $50 million investment, with more than $26 million already committed to construction and equipment. Once completed, it is expected to become Africa’s first fully integrated steel pipe induction bending and coating facility, capable of processing steel pipes ranging from 2 inches to 48 inches in diameter.
The facility will provide integrated induction bending, heat treatment, testing and coating services for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, reducing the need to source these specialised services overseas.
Brentex Managing Director, Mr. Chidi Nzerem, described the visit by the NCDMB leadership as a strong endorsement of the project and acknowledged the Board’s decade-long support.
He said the facility was conceived to advance the objectives of the NOGICD Act by expanding indigenous participation in the country’s oil and gas value chain.
Nzerem disclosed that the plant is scheduled to commence full operations in the fourth quarter of 2027, expressing optimism that continued collaboration with the NCDMB would accelerate its completion.
Facility to Create Jobs and Build Technical Skills
Beyond manufacturing, the project is expected to contribute significantly to workforce development.
According to Nzerem, the facility will employ approximately 200 engineers and technical professionals, creating opportunities for technical training, skills transfer and capacity development, with the long-term objective of ensuring the plant is fully operated by Nigerian professionals.
He added that Brentex intends to partner with the NCDMB after certification of the facility to develop industry-focused training programmes aligned with the Board’s human capital development mandate.
Reducing Imports, Supporting Major Energy Projects
Brentex Project Manager, Engr. Patrick Anaje, said the facility would transform Nigeria’s pipeline engineering landscape by providing the country’s first fully integrated local solution for steel pipe induction bending, coating and repair services.
He noted that approximately 95% of specialised steel pipes and related engineering services are currently sourced from abroad, resulting in higher project costs and longer delivery timelines.
According to Anaje, local availability of these services will reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, shorten procurement cycles, lower logistics costs, improve project execution and retain more value within the Nigerian economy.
He also revealed that Brentex is currently supporting the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline Project, where the new facility’s capabilities are expected to enhance pipeline engineering and construction activities.
Industry observers say projects such as the Brentex facility align with Nigeria’s broader strategy of increasing local manufacturing capacity, reducing import dependence and creating high-value industrial jobs while supporting the country’s expanding oil, gas and energy infrastructure.
