Tinubu: We’ll Use Nigeria’s Gas Resources to Create Jobs and Boost Export Earnings

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pledged on Thursday to harness Nigeria's gas resources to generate employment, enhance electricity generation, generate jobs and increase export revenues. He made the declaration as the country's indigenous engineering firm, Lee Engineering, successfully constructed two compressor stations, permitting the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System to function at its maximum capacity of 2.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily.

During a meeting at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu reiterated his administration's Nigeria First policy and pleaded with international oil firms operating in the nation to grant Nigerian engineering and manufacturing entities more chances to engage in significant energy projects. The compressor stations, being developed by Lee Engineering for the ELPS II expansion, are essential for boosting gas transportation to power plants and industries along that route, boosting gas supplies to neighboring West African countries via the West African Gas Pipeline, and generating additional export earnings.

The President, emphasizing that Nigeria First must result in more contracts for competent Nigerian companies, greater utilization of locally manufactured equipment, and more job opportunities for Nigerians, encouraged international oil corporations to establish stronger collaborations with indigenous engineering firms with a proven track record of successfully completing intricate projects.

Earlier, Lee Engineering's Founder and Chairman, Chief Dr Leemon Ikpea, praised the President's Nigeria First policy and revealed that the company's fabrication yard in Warri, Delta State, is producing components for the compressor stations and houses some of the most advanced fabrication equipment in the industry. According to Ikpea, Nigerian firms have heavily invested in cutting-edge equipment, technology, and skilled personnel, allowing them to handle complex EPC projects previously carried out by foreign contractors, thereby preserving more employment, expertise, and economic value within Nigeria.