The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Ogbe, has called on indigenous oil and gas operators to take bold steps into deepwater exploration, stressing that the future of the industry lies in that segment.
Ogbe gave the charge during a facility tour of West African Ventures’ (WAV) Fabrication Yard, Machine Shop, and jetties at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Rivers State. The visit showcased the company’s rising capacity in engineering and offshore services.
Commending WAV’s progress, Ogbe recalled awarding the company its first offshore pipe-laying contract during his time at Chevron Nigeria Limited, noting that the project was executed to a high standard. He expressed confidence in the company’s technical capabilities, highlighting its rolling mill, ocean-going vessels, fabrication yard, and heavy-duty equipment such as the JASCON 8 and a 160-tonne crane.
“You have the capacity, and you have worked hard. What I have seen here today is an eye-opener. The next step is for you to begin to participate fully in deepwater operations. That is where the big players in oil and gas are going,” Ogbe said. He emphasized that while projects are awarded through competitive bidding, NCDMB is committed to transparency, fairness, and giving Nigerian firms a level playing field.
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Responding, the Managing Director of WAV, Mr. Michael Dumbi Amaeshike, expressed gratitude for the visit, describing his company as a homegrown success story that has been a key service provider in the oil and gas sector for over four decades. He noted that WAV has trained many professionals who now hold critical positions across maritime, engineering, procurement, and construction. He also disclosed that the company recently completed a major infrastructure project for a marginal field operator, further underscoring its industry relevance.
The NCDMB boss was accompanied on the tour by top management officials, including Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director of Capacity Building; Mr. Ossaowa Andrew Uchendu, Acting Director of Finance and Personnel Management; Barr. Naboth Onyeso, Acting Director of Legal Services; Mr. Ene Ette, General Manager of Planning, Research and Statistics; and Mr. Suleiman Ozimede, General Manager of Facilities and Logistics.
The visit signals renewed efforts by NCDMB to push Nigerian oil and gas operators beyond traditional onshore and shallow water projects and position them to compete in deepwater operations, where billions of dollars in opportunities remain untapped.
