Yemisi Izuora
Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, has called for a coordinated, strategic approach to boost Nigeria’s oil and gas production and drive broader economic growth.
The call was made during the 2025 Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum, an annual industry conference held in Yenagoa.
Speaking at strategic panel sessions on “Streamlining Project Delivery for Improved Efficiency” and “Nigeria First Policy – Pathways for Growth”, Etabuko Abirhire, Executive Director, Development, Esso E&P, outlined actionable strategies to support Nigeria’s ambitious energy objectives.
Abirhire emphasized the need to achieve a production target of 4 million barrels per day and attract $60 billion in investment, highlighting priorities such as enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring predictable regulatory and fiscal frameworks, implementing long-term local content programs to strengthen Nigerian companies’ capacity.
“Achieving Nigeria’s production and investment goals requires alignment across all stakeholders,” Abirhire said. “Pass-throughs to local entities without real capacity development increase project costs and undermine the intent of the National Content law, ultimately affecting competitiveness.”
He stressed that sustainable capacity development demands recognizing aspirational areas of local content, encouraging external investment, and supporting local firms genuinely committed to building capacity.
“Partnerships with external investors must attract investment and remain globally competitive. Balancing local content aspirations with investor competitiveness will deliver win-win outcomes,” he noted. “Equally important is ensuring stability and consistency in laws and regulations through broad stakeholder consultations before policies are enacted. Predictability encourages investment.”
Abirhire highlighted Esso’s commitment to advancing local content by applying lessons from the NOGICD Act to boost Nigerian service providers’ competitiveness and expand the domestic supply chain.
“Our collaboration with Tamrose Limited, a Nigerian marine services firm, helped grow its fleet from 4 to 15 vessels, positioning it to compete for security patrol and platform supply opportunities across the Gulf of Guinea,” he said. “We remain committed to fostering an environment where Nigerian service providers can compete globally while contributing to long-term economic transformation” he said.