NCDMB boss tasks West African Ventures, other firms on deepwater operations
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:22 am
Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), on Tuesday, acknowledged the advanced capabilities and proven track record of West African Ventures (WAV) Nigeria Limited, an indigenous service company.
NCDMB's GM Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, quoted the Executive Secretary to have noted that the firm and other well established Nigerian companies need to pivot to the deepwater segment of oil and gas operations where vast opportunities exist.
Ezeobi, in a press statement, revealed that Ogbe made the statement during a facility tour of the WAV Fabrication Yard, Machine Shop, and jetties at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) in Onne, Rivers State.
The NCDMB boss stated 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,” Ogbe said, adding that what he had seen during the tour was an eye-opener, indicative of the current capabilities of the company, which he described as impressive.
According to him, “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.”
Ogbe who urged the company to start looking at how it could participate in offshore operations because pointed out that “All the big players in the oil and gas industry] are going to deepwater.”
While noting that “projects are by competitive bidding” and that NCDMB stands for transparency and professionalism, Ogbe expressed confidence 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, thanked the NCDMB boss and Management for the visit.
He reiterated 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 critical 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.
During an overview of the company’s operations, the Manager in charge of 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.
“We are not only fabricating but have an offshore base where we provide logistics assistance and load-out to all marine activities,” he stated.
He revealed that the company has also invested in integrated pipe profiling and plate-cutting machines and other equipment.
He therefore solicited the support of the NCDMB in making its capabilities known within the industry, lamenting that despite the huge investments and the firm’s excellent track record, patronage has been low.
Those who accompanied the NCDMB boss were: 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.
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NCDMB's GM Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, quoted the Executive Secretary to have noted that the firm and other well established Nigerian companies need to pivot to the deepwater segment of oil and gas operations where vast opportunities exist.
Ezeobi, in a press statement, revealed that Ogbe made the statement during a facility tour of the WAV Fabrication Yard, Machine Shop, and jetties at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) in Onne, Rivers State.
The NCDMB boss stated 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,” Ogbe said, adding that what he had seen during the tour was an eye-opener, indicative of the current capabilities of the company, which he described as impressive.
According to him, “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.”
Ogbe who urged the company to start looking at how it could participate in offshore operations because pointed out that “All the big players in the oil and gas industry] are going to deepwater.”
While noting that “projects are by competitive bidding” and that NCDMB stands for transparency and professionalism, Ogbe expressed confidence 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, thanked the NCDMB boss and Management for the visit.
He reiterated 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 critical 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.
During an overview of the company’s operations, the Manager in charge of 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.
“We are not only fabricating but have an offshore base where we provide logistics assistance and load-out to all marine activities,” he stated.
He revealed that the company has also invested in integrated pipe profiling and plate-cutting machines and other equipment.
He therefore solicited the support of the NCDMB in making its capabilities known within the industry, lamenting that despite the huge investments and the firm’s excellent track record, patronage has been low.
Those who accompanied the NCDMB boss were: 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.
https://www.facebook.com/10006360480855 ... 7S9Ucbxw6v