Uche Cecil Izuora
Nigeria is promoting in-country production of threaded pipes mainly in use in the oil and gas industry.
To further support local industries Nigeria has placed a ban on the issuance of waivers for the importation of threaded pipes, according to Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil).
The Minister gave the directive to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) at the commissioning of Monarch Alloys Limited’s concrete weight coating plant in Lagos on Thursday.
The plant has an annual external coating capacity of two million square meters and an internal square meters coating capacity of one million square meters.
The facility supports onshore and offshore pipeline requirements where increased line lengths and sea-bed depths demand advanced corrosion protection and deploys a full range of coating systems.
Lokpobiri said investments like that of Monarch Alloys must be patronised to encourage similar projects in the sector.
He underlined the importance of the local content policy to the nation’s economy, assuring that the federal government would continue to support manufacturers, to create jobs in the country.
“We would not allow dumping of pipes or such things anymore; we have a duty to support our industries to grow,” Lokpobiri said.
Minister of state for industry, trade and investment, John Enoh, on his part
lauded the promoters of Monarch Alloys for decreasing Nigeria’s dependence on importation and expanding the value chain.
Enoh said the investment aligned with the agenda of his ministry to promote value addition, job creation and partnership for the growth of the economy.
“The investment also serves as a model for continuous collaboration between the private sector and government and creates opportunities,” he said.
Enoh also said Nigeria’s economy would only grow through industrialisation, assuring that the government would continue to provide an enabling environment for investments to thrive.
In his remarks, Felix Ogbe, executive secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), commended the investment, noting that it underscored the mandate of the board.
“This means companies like Monarch Alloys are not just contributing to industrialisation but are also positioned to benefit directly from local contracting opportunities,” the NCDMB boss said.
Ogbe said sourcing critical elements such as pipeline coating from abroad drains both opportunity and value from our economy.
He added that the situation had started to change, with the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act by the NCDMB.
Speaking further, the NCDMB boss remarked that the new facility “brings high-performance 3LPE and concrete weight coating capability into the country, delivering not only technical excellence but economic benefit that stays within our borders”.
“The economic implications are significant, including job creation, skills development, stimulation of local manufacturing and logistics. Monarch Alloys is not only serving a sectoral need,” he added.
“It is actively contributing to national development.” He also challenged industry stakeholders, especially operating companies to deepen their collaboration with local players such as Monarch Alloys.”
During his welcome address, Atul Chaudhary, managing director of Monarch Alloys, confirmed that the company completed the investment within 18 months.
Chaudhary also announced the company’s plans to establish a longitudinal submerged arc welding (LSAW) pipe mill in the country to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry.