President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria to give competent indigenous engineering and manufacturing firms greater opportunities in major energy projects.
​The President made the call on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during a meeting at the State House, Abuja, where he received Dr. Leemon Ikpea, Founder and Chairman of Lee Engineering Group.
​In a statement issued following the audience, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed that President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s determination to prioritize local expertise, domestic equipment manufacturing, and job creation under his “Nigeria First” policy framework.
​During the session, President Tinubu stressed that the “Nigeria First” agenda must yield practical outcomes, including the award of major contracts to capable domestic contractors, increased utilization of locally fabricated equipment, and the creation of skilled opportunities for Nigerian workers.
​He encouraged international oil majors to forge deeper partnerships with indigenous engineering entities that have built strong technical credentials to execute complex Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects.
​President Tinubu also pointed to his administration’s 2024 executive orders and presidential directives on local content compliance, contracting costs, and approval timelines as regulatory measures designed to eliminate delays, lower operational expenses, and expand participation for local companies across the energy value chain.
​A key highlight of the meeting was the focus on gas infrastructure expansion. Discussions centered on two critical compressor stations currently being constructed in Edo State by Lee Engineering.
The installations are designed to raise operating pressure along the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), enabling it to reach its full capacity of 2.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, up from its current operating rate of 1.1 billion standard cubic feet.
​Addressing the strategic value of the project, President Tinubu reaffirmed his resolve to leverage domestic natural gas resources to drive industrial growth, stabilize the national electricity grid, generate employment, and earn foreign exchange through exports.
​Responding during the visit, Dr. Leemon Ikpea commended the administration’s local content initiatives, confirming that Lee Engineering’s fabrication yard in Warri, Delta State, is currently manufacturing key components for the Edo State compressor stations.
​Dr. Ikpea noted that the Warri facility houses state-of-the-art fabrication machinery, demonstrating that Nigerian firms have built the technical capacity, capital investment, and skilled workforce necessary to handle complex projects previously dominated by foreign contractors.
Keeping these high-value projects within the country, he added, ensures that economic value and technical expertise remain within the domestic economy.
