NCDMB applauds Bell Oil’s assembly plant 

Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commended Bell Oil & Gas Company on the establishment of its 50,000 metric tonne valve and Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) assembly plant, describing it as a significant advancement for Nigeria’s local content and national development.

The new facility, according to the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Omatsola Ogbe, is expected to strengthen local value addition within Nigeria’s oil and gas supply chain, fostering job creation and skill development in the industry.

He gave the commendation at the unveiling of the valve assembly and composite pipes manufacturing facility, located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

Ogbe emphasised the plant’s alignment with national objectives to increase local participation in the sector.

According to the company, the facility, which targets $100 million investment over five years, is geared towards ending the importation of OCTG pipes, valves and other materials needed for oil drilling, onshore and offshore.

Ogbe added that the project, owned by an indigenous oil service company, was a testament to the growth of local competence and capacity in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

He noted that the facility for pipe threading, machining, valve manufacturing, assembly and maintenance marked a significant advancement in the petroleum industry.

“They are not only creating infrastructure but are also driving the in-country value that is vital for our nation’s progress. This facility will bolster our capabilities, offering essential services that will be instrumental in meeting the growing demand for oil and gas infrastructure within Nigeria,” he said.

The local content board boss emphasised that Nigerian Content was not pushing ‘Nigerianisation’ or exclusion of foreign participation in the oil and gas industry, but rather implementing a model, which provides sufficient opportunities for the participation of multinationals, original equipment manufacturers and offshore vendors in a mutually beneficial manner.

The Chief Executive Officer of Bell Oil & Gas, Dr Kayode Thomas, told the media the project, being built in three phases, would serve as a valve manufacturing, assembly, repair, maintenance workshop and a composite pipe fabrication plant.

He revealed that the project was estimated to cost about $100 million to achieve full completion and will ramp up capacity from the current 50,000 metric tonnes to about 150,000 metric tonnes.

Thomas commended the NCDMB for its support, appealing to the board to reduce the bottlenecks in accessing funds from the Nigerian Content Development Fund.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, congratulated Bell Oil & Gas for the feat achieved.

Sanwo-Olu said the facility was a testimony to the unwavering commitment of Bell Oil & Gas to build an industry, powered by Nigerian talents and reduce reliance on imported equipment and services.