Welders demand inclusion in AKK pipeline project

Welding professionals in Nigeria have urged the government and project operators to adhere to local content requirements in the construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline and other NNPC initiatives. At the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Welding, held at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Lagos, the professionals argued that qualified Nigerian welders should be prioritized in major oil and gas projects.

They highlighted that the country boasts a pool of skilled professionals with the necessary technical expertise and international certifications to handle complex welding tasks. NIW Chairman, Prof Abdullahi Maa’ji, noted that while Nigerian welders contribute significantly to welding technology on the continent and globally, they remain marginalized in key domestic projects.

He cited a pay disparity between foreign and Nigerian welders working on the AKK gas pipeline project, where some foreigners earn up to N3 million, while Nigerian welders earn between N200,000 and N300,000. Maa’ji questioned why foreign workers, trained by Nigerians, are being employed over local professionals. He called on the Federal Government and project operators to comply with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act by ensuring greater involvement of indigenous welding experts.

Maa’ji emphasized that the NIW has trained Nigerians in various welding processes and that many graduates have found international employment. He also mentioned that hundreds of Nigerian welders recently secured jobs in the Middle East through the Welding Federation – Africa. The AGM discussed rebuilding and rebranding the welding profession, as well as strengthening the NIW's governance structure.

With the theme ‘A New Dawn, A New Direction, and a Stronger NIW’, stakeholders reviewed the institute's challenges over the past 16 years and called for stricter adherence to its constitution and improved governance. They emphasized the need to recognize welding as a strategic profession for Nigeria's industrialization and youth employment, urging stronger local participation in major infrastructure, oil and gas, and fabrication projects.