Nigeria has reached a new milestone in industrial capacity, as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) confirmed that the country is now exporting fabrication services to the Middle East and several African countries.
The announcement was made by the Board’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Omatshola Ogbe, during a workshop for media stakeholders and youth groups in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Represented by Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, NCDMB’s Director of Corporate Services, Ogbe revealed that Nigeria’s fabrication sector, strengthened by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, has grown beyond domestic demand, creating excess capacity that is now being deployed internationally.
“From some 50 world-class fabrication yards across the country, we now have the ability not only to serve local projects but also to compete for jobs abroad. Our fabrication services are currently being exported to the Middle East and several African nations,” Halilu stated in his presentation titled “NCDMB Mandate and Achievements.”
A Policy Success Story
Industry experts say the development is a clear example of how targeted local content policies can yield long-term economic benefits. The NOGICD Act, passed in 2010, mandated oil and gas operators to prioritize Nigerian content in contracts, training, and project execution. Over the years, this has stimulated investment in fabrication yards, skills training, and technology transfer.
Energy analyst and CEO of Frontline Energy Advisory, Mr. Tunde Adebayo, noted:
“This is the payoff of more than a decade of consistent policy. Nigeria is no longer just a consumer of oil and gas infrastructure; it is now a global supplier of critical fabrication services. That changes the country’s profile from being dependent on imports to being a regional exporter.”
Boost for the Non-Oil Economy and Foreign Exchange
Economists believe the export of fabrication services could help diversify Nigeria’s revenue base at a time when reliance on crude oil exports is increasingly seen as unsustainable. Preliminary estimates suggest that the sector could generate between $150 million to $250 million in annual foreign exchange earnings over the next five years, depending on the scale of overseas contracts secured by Nigerian firms.
Dr. Amaka Nwosu, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Industrial Policy Studies, emphasized:
“The ability to earn foreign exchange from fabrication exports strengthens Nigeria’s balance of payments. It also positions the country to reduce vulnerability to global oil price shocks while creating jobs, enhancing skills, and fostering technology transfer.”
Private Sector Endorsements
Stakeholders in the oil and gas services industry are equally upbeat. The Chairman of the Oil Services Fabricators Association of Nigeria (OSFAN), Mr. Ifeanyi Eze, described the exports as “validation of the billions of naira invested in fabrication yards over the past decade.”
“Many of our members have faced skepticism about whether Nigeria could build globally competitive yards. Today, the fact that our services are being sought after in the Middle East and other African markets is the strongest endorsement of the progress we’ve made,” Eze said.
The Role of Media and Civil Society
Halilu stressed that the media, youth groups, and civil society organizations (CSOs) have been instrumental in ensuring accountability and pushing government agencies to deliver public value. The Port Harcourt workshop, he said, was aimed at deepening collaboration with these groups while showcasing NCDMB’s achievements.
Looking Ahead
Analysts caution that sustaining this progress will require continuous investment in human capital, infrastructure, and technology. Expansion into allied services such as shipbuilding, modular refineries, and renewable energy equipment fabrication is seen as a strategic path to diversify Nigeria’s industrial export portfolio further.
“If managed strategically, the fabrication export sector could contribute up to $1 billion in foreign exchange earnings within the next decade, and catalyze growth in local manufacturing and support industries,” noted Tunde Adebayo.
For now, however, the export of fabrication services stands as a significant win for local content development and a signal that Nigeria is steadily positioning itself as a regional hub for oil and gas services, generating both revenue and global recognition.
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