By Ali Elias
Ikorodu, Lagos: The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, on Thursday, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to inclusive industrial growth during the commissioning the Monarch Alloys Limited 3LPE and Concrete Weight Coating Facility in Ikorodu, Lagos, on April 24, 2025
Describing the plant as a significant step in Nigeria’s quest for energy-sector self-sufficiency, Engr. Ogbe declared that “Nigerian Content is not about ‘Nigerianisation’ or exclusion of foreign participation in the Oil and Gas Industry.”
“It is about value creation in Nigeria by encouraging the involvement of multinationals and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in a mutually beneficial manner,” he said.
Located at Plot 161 – 150C, Ikorodu Industrial Scheme, the newly commissioned facility is expected to offer high-performance pipeline coating services, including 3-layer polyethylene and concrete weight coating, critical for oil and gas infrastructure.
Engr. Ogbe emphasized that the Monarch Alloys plant directly aligns with the objectives of the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC), a strategic tool under the NOGICD Act designed to promote local manufacturing.
“Under Section 12 of the Act, such manufacturers and OEMs are given priority consideration during technical bid evaluations. This means companies like Monarch Alloys are not just contributing to industrialization but are also positioned to benefit directly from local contracting opportunities,” he explained.
He lamented the long-standing practice of outsourcing pipeline coating to foreign firms, calling it “a drain on economic value,” and praised Monarch Alloys for reversing the trend.
“This facility brings high-performance coating capability into the country, delivering not only technical excellence but economic benefit that stays within our borders.”
Beyond technical impact, the NCDMB boss highlighted the plant’s broader developmental implications.
“The economic implications are significant: job creation, skills development, stimulation of local manufacturing and logistics. Monarch Alloys is not only serving a sectoral need; it is actively contributing to national development.”
He also urged operating companies — including IOCs and NOCs — to prioritize local partnerships.
“Building national capacity is not the responsibility of one entity; it is a shared responsibility. We call upon all stakeholders to deepen their collaboration with local players such as Monarch Alloys.”
Concluding, Engr. Ogbe commended the company’s leadership and staff for their vision and execution, calling the facility “a model of what local content success looks like in practice.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman and Managing Director of Monarch Alloys Limited, Mr. Atul Chaudhary, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders — from government officials to community leaders — for their support in delivering the project within 18 months.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the collective will and backing of all our partners,” he said.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, praised the initiative, warning against the continued dumping of foreign products in Nigeria.
“If this company is not patronized, it would die naturally,” he cautioned. “Let me say today that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dumping will be no more.”
“Nigeria used to be a dumping ground for pipes imported from China. This must end. Monarch Alloys is one of the most important industries in our oil and gas sector today.”
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Ms. Bimbo Salu-Hundeyin, described the facility as a “groundbreaking project that marks a significant advancement in our infrastructure capabilities.”
Senator Tokunbo Abiru, currently representing Lagos East Senatorial District, where the facility is located, pledged to work with Lagos State government support the industrial scheme with necessary development in the area, good roads especially.
“We will work with the state government to improve infrastructure at the Odogunyan Industrial Scheme,” he assured.
The ceremony drew wide participation from top government officials, industry leaders, and community stakeholders. In attendance were the Minister of Trade and Investment, Sen. John Owan, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, representatives of Shell Companies in Nigeria, local content managers in the oil and gas industry, traditional rulers from Ikorodu, and several NCDMB directors, including Barr. Naboth Onyenso, Abdul Malik Halilu, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile.and others.
The facility was unveiled amid cheers by the Secretary to the Lagos State, as representative of the governor.
The commissioning showcased Monarch Alloys’ capabilities and underscoring its potential to serve as a potential hub for pipeline solutions in West Africa.
As Nigeria deepens its industrial base, the commissioning of Monarch Alloys’ state-of-the-art facility in Lagos stands as both a symbol and a catalyst for broader local content transformation.