The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will establish five mini-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, set to commence in 2025.
This announcement was made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, during the 13th Annual Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum, according to a statement by her Chief Press Secretary, Arogbonlo Israel, in Abuja.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, described the initiative as groundbreaking, noting that the five plants represent the largest concentration of such projects in a single senatorial district in Nigeria.
“This is a significant milestone for Ajaokuta and the nation at large,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “By God’s grace, five mini-LNG plants will be established in Ajaokuta next year, marking a historic achievement for our district.”
She highlighted the potential of these projects to catalyze industrial innovation and position Ajaokuta as a hub for technological advancements in metals and other industries.
In her remarks, Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the need to redefine Nigerian local content beyond traditional capacity building, calling for a more innovative and sustainable approach to drive national development.
“For decades, Nigerian content has focused on capacity building in the oil and gas sector, prioritizing skills acquisition, education, and infrastructure development,” she noted. “While these efforts have laid a solid foundation, it is time to look beyond and explore innovation, sustainability, collaboration, and market expansion to achieve holistic transformation across sectors.”
The senator stressed that leveraging local resources and manufacturing capabilities, such as producing steel for rigs locally, could save the country billions and create significant job opportunities.
“The cheapest rig costs $10 million, and some go up to $25 million. Imagine manufacturing these rigs in-country. It would create jobs and save enormous resources,” she stated.
To unlock Nigeria’s full potential, Akpoti-Uduaghan proposed a comprehensive framework for national development focusing on four key areas: refining policies, building competitive ecosystems, optimizing value chains, and integrating into the global market.
“Nigerian content must transcend the oil and gas sector. It should be a legacy of value creation, self-reliance, and global competitiveness,” she said.
She concluded by urging stakeholders to adopt a dynamic approach to addressing the country’s challenges, emphasizing that innovation and collaboration will be critical to Nigeria’s success in a rapidly evolving global economy.
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