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Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas expansion drive recorded a major boost as the $5 billion Train 7 project of the Nigeria LNG Limited reached 92 per cent completion and advanced into the pre-commissioning phase.
The milestone came as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board disclosed that indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry had grown significantly, with upstream operating companies increasing from fewer than 10 to 117 since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act in 2010.
Speaking at the 2026 Nigerian Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Summit in Lagos, Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Adeleye Falade, represented by the Train 7 Project Director, Mr. Ali Uwais, said the project had overcome years of delays and uncertainties to attain its current stage.
According to him, engineering work on the project commenced in 2018, while the Final Investment Decision was taken in December 2019 by the project shareholders — NNPC Limited, Shell, TotalEnergies and Eni.
He explained that despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders remained committed to the project, leading to the award of the engineering, procurement and construction contract in 2020 to the Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo consortium.
“Today, Train 7 is over 92 per cent complete,” Uwais stated.
When completed, the project is expected to raise NLNG’s production capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum to 30 million tonnes per annum, significantly increasing Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas export capacity.
Uwais said the project’s broader significance lies in the expansion of local industrial capacity, stressing that NLNG deliberately treated Nigerian content as a development opportunity rather than a regulatory obligation.
He disclosed that Nigerian firms, including Dorman Long, Aveon and African Industries, supplied substantial portions of the 4,000 tonnes of structural steel required for the project, while local manufacturers such as Coleman, Mecom, Medgene and Cable Metal produced all medium and high-voltage cables used on the project.
According to him, NLNG also invested in steel fabrication and galvanising facilities expected to support future industrial projects beyond Train 7.
Uwais acknowledged that some local vendors faced challenges relating to production capacity, quality standards and delivery timelines during execution, noting that additional technical oversight and interventions were introduced to meet project requirements.
He added that the experience exposed gaps in areas such as cryogenic equipment manufacturing and testing, prompting collaborations with Nigerian universities to strengthen local research and technical expertise.
At the peak of construction, more than 13,000 Nigerians were employed on the project, while thousands received training in welding, scaffolding, electrical installation and other specialised skills.
He further revealed that the project achieved 130 million man-hours with only two lost-time injuries recorded.
Uwais, however, warned that the gains recorded through Train 7 could be eroded if Nigeria fails to sustain investments in oil, gas and broader industrial development.
“The real value of Train 7 will be measured by what Nigeria does with the experience, skills, infrastructure and industrial capacity built through this project,” he said.
Also speaking at the summit, Acting Manager of Midstream Monitoring at NCDMB, Mr. Patrick June, said local content implementation had transformed indigenous participation across the oil and gas value chain.
He disclosed that operating companies in the upstream sector had risen to 117, generating 11,934 jobs, while service companies expanded to 11,764 with over 129,000 jobs created.
June added that local content levels in the industry increased from less than five per cent in 2010 to 61 per cent in 2025.
According to him, the NCDMB database currently captures hundreds of registered firms under the Joint Qualification System, including 50 fabrication yards, 20 engineering design firms and 122 manufacturing companies.
Earlier, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Felix Ogbe, represented by Austin Azuka, Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, said Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain was undergoing rapid transformation driven by reforms, increased investor confidence and stronger indigenous participation.
Ogbe noted that recent investments, particularly the emergence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, were repositioning Nigeria from a crude oil exporter to a processor and exporter of refined and semi-finished energy products.
He said opportunities were expanding across gas gathering, processing, transportation, storage, refining, petrochemicals and compressed natural gas distribution.
Also at the summit, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mr. Rabiu Umar, represented by Olasupo Agbaje, said the industry had witnessed massive investments in recent years, especially in gas infrastructure and processing projects.
