From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, on Tuesday acknowledged the advanced capabilities and proven track record of a leading indigenous service company, West African Ventures (WAV) Nigeria Limited, noting that the firm and others well established Nigerian companies need to pivot to the deepwater segment of oil and gas operations where vast opportunities exist.
Speaking during a facility tour of the WAV Fabrication Yard, Machine Shop, and jetties at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne, in Rivers State, the Executive Secretary revealed that he awarded the company their first offshore pipe-laying contract when he (Ogbe) served as the Construction Manager with Chevron Nigeria Limited, recalling that the execution of the project was very satisfactory.“You have worked hard; you are a very good company,” he declared, adding that what he had seen during the tour were an eye-opener, indicative of the current capabilities of the company, which he described as impressive.
“You have a [50mm] rolling mill; you have ocean-going vessels; apart from that you have a good yard to do fabrication, good load-out equipment like the JASCON 8, and a crane with a tonnage of 160,” he noted.He said West African Ventures Limited should start looking at how it could participate in offshore operations because “All the big players in the oil and gas industry] are going to deepwater.”
While emphasising that “projects are by competitive bidding” and that NCDMB stands for transparency and professionalism, he was confident that indigenous companies have what it takes to participate effectively in the deepwater space.
Earlier at the occasion, the Managing Director of West African Ventures, Mr. Michael Dumbi Amaeshike, expressed appreciation at the visit by the NCDMB boss and Management, stating that his company has been a service provider in the oil and gas industry for over 40 years, and has been “a showcase for what it takes to have a proud Nigerian company that portrays local content the way it should be.” He said many personnel occupying cr itical positions in different subsectors in the oil and gas industry, notably, maritime, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), are products of his company, and that WAV recently completed a major infrastructural project for a marginal field operator.In an overview of the company’s operations, the Manager, Fabrication, Engr. Chimeziri Onwukwe, said WAV is actively involved in the fabrication of platforms, jackets, modules, tanks and many other structures used in the industry.”
According to him, “We are not only fabricating but have an offshore base where we provide logistics assistance and load-out to all marine activities.”In addition, the company has invested in integrated pipe profiling and plate-cutting machines and other equipment. He solicited the support of the NCDMB in making its capabilities known within the industry, pointing out that despite the huge investments and the firm’s excellent track record, patronage has been low.
The NCDMB team on the facility tour included Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director, Capacity Building; Mr. Ossaowa Andrew Uchendu, Acting Director, Finance and Personnel Management; Barr. Naboth Onyeso, Acting Director, Legal Services; Mr. Ene Ette, General Manager, Planning, Research and Statistics, and Mr. Suleiman Ozimede, General Manager, Facilities and Logistics.
