President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s vast gas resources to power industries, improve electricity supply, create jobs and increase export earnings.
The President made this known while receiving the Founder and Chairman of Lee Engineering Group, Chief Dr Leemon Ikpea, CON, at the State House, Abuja, following the indigenous engineering firm’s achievement in constructing two compressor stations designed to enable the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) to operate at its full capacity of 2.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to the Nigeria First policy, urging international oil companies operating in the country to provide greater opportunities for competent Nigerian engineering and manufacturing firms to participate in major energy projects.
Lee Engineering is executing the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of two midline compressor stations in Edo State. The facilities are critical to achieving the full operational capacity of the ELPS, whose designed capacity was increased from 1.1 billion to 2.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day under the ELPS II expansion.
The compressor stations will boost pipeline pressure, enabling increased gas delivery to power plants and industries along the corridor. The project is also expected to strengthen gas supplies to neighbouring West African countries through the West African Gas Pipeline and generate additional export revenue for Nigeria.
The President stressed that the Nigeria First policy must translate into more contracts for capable indigenous companies, increased utilisation of locally manufactured equipment and the creation of skilled employment opportunities for Nigerians.
He encouraged international oil companies to establish stronger partnerships with indigenous engineering firms that have demonstrated the technical capacity to execute complex projects.
Tinubu also highlighted his administration’s 2024 executive orders and presidential directives on local content compliance, contracting costs and approval timelines, describing them as measures aimed at attracting investment, reducing bureaucratic delays and expanding opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
In his remarks, Ikpea commended the President’s Nigeria First policy, noting that Lee Engineering’s fabrication yard in Warri, Delta State, is manufacturing some of the components required for the compressor stations.
He disclosed that the facility houses some of the industry’s most advanced fabrication equipment, adding that indigenous companies have invested significantly in modern technology, equipment and skilled personnel.
According to him, Nigerian engineering firms now possess the capacity to undertake complex Engineering, Procurement and Construction projects that were previously dominated by foreign contractors.
Ikpea said greater participation by indigenous firms would help retain jobs, technical expertise and economic value within the country while strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capacity.
Courtesy: Lagos Panorama
