Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva says the Federal Government will continue to support and patronise indigenous companies in order to boost the Local Content Act of the country.
Chief Sylva stated this shortly after inspecting facilities at the Operation Base of Lee Engineering and Construction Company Limited based in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
The minister’s visit to the company which ranks top among the leading indigenous engineering and construction companies in Nigeria was part of efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the Local Content Act.
Chief Sylva and his entourage were received by the Executive Chairman of Lee Engineering and Construction Company Limited, Dr Leemon Ikpea, who conducted them around the state of the art facilities of the company.
One of the facilities inspected by the Minister of State for Petroleum, was the ultra-modern manufacturing and fabrication workshop that is still under construction.
Speaking after the inspection, Chief Sylva expressed satisfaction with the state of the art facilities at Lee Engineering and Construction Company Limited, describing the company as a trailblazer, which has made its mark in the oil and gas industry.
The company the minister noted has boosted the Local Content Act through its qualitative and timely service delivery and promised them of government’s patronage as well as support.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has grown its Local Content Policy from three percent in 2010 to thirty percent and hope to grow it to seventy percent in 2027.
Dr lkpea told the Minister that the ultra-modern manufacturing and fabrication workshop with state of the art equipment when operational will manufacture heat exchangers, pressure vessels, process skids, tanks, valves and fittings as well as other very important oil and gas tools.
He added that the facility which will be completed in seven months is expected to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari and appealed for government’s patronage.
Earlier, the General Manager, Business Development and Relations, Mr Godwin Abhulimen, x-rayed the activities of the company before the minister and his entourage.
The Nigerian Government in March 2010 signed into law the Nigerian Local Content Act. which aims to promote the industrialization of the nation’s oil and gas industry through increase in indigenous participation by prescribing a minimum threshold for the use of local services and promoting the employment of Nigerian staff in the industry.
