Welders demand inclusion in AKK pipeline project

Welding experts under the Nigerian Institute of Welding have urged the Nigerian government and pipeline operators to adhere strictly to local content requirements in major projects such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline. At the institute's 2026 Annual General Meeting, held in Lagos, members argued for greater participation of qualified Nigerian welders in key oil and gas projects.

NIW Chairman Prof Abdullahi Maa’ji highlighted that while Nigerian welders possess the technical expertise and international certifications needed for complex welding tasks, they are often underpaid and overlooked in comparison to foreign workers. He cited a stark disparity in remuneration, with foreign welders reportedly earning up to N3 million while Nigerian welders on the same project earn between N200,000 and N300,000.

Maa’ji emphasized that Nigeria has a pool of trained welders who have secured international employment, but called for adherence to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act to ensure greater involvement of indigenous welding professionals. The institute has made significant progress in developing welding capacity in line with international standards, but stakeholders called for stronger recognition of welding as a strategic profession for industrialization and youth employment, alongside calls for improved governance and transparency within the NIW.