CEO lauds oil, gas policies boosting indigenous capacity at conference

Stakeholders in the nation’s oil and gas sector have expressed optimism over policy reforms aimed at deepening indigenous participation and raising crude oil output to two million barrels per day.

Speaking at the 2026 Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Jenik Freight, Chukwujekwu Onwughalu, hailed the ongoing reforms designed to strengthen local content and stimulate production growth.

He urged the Federal Government to sustain policies that empower indigenous operators, ease import bottlenecks and improve access to financing for capital-intensive investments.

Onwughalu said reforms supporting local capacity and production expansion have triggered renewed activity across the industry, with international oil companies and indigenous firms scaling operations in line with national output targets.

“There is strong momentum in the sector,” he said. “Operators are ramping up production, sourcing equipment and reactivating dormant assets. For logistics providers, this translates to increased demand and closer collaboration with indigenous companies.”

Jenik Freight, a Calgary-based international logistics firm, specialises in freight forwarding for the oil and gas industry, providing ocean and air freight services for the cross-border movement of critical industrial equipment.

Founded in 2016, the company was established to bridge logistics gaps faced by oil and gas professionals sourcing specialised equipment into Nigeria and other emerging energy markets.

With academic training in mechanical and petroleum engineering and nearly 15 years’ experience in drilling, workover operations and logistics across international markets, Onwughalu said he identified the need for dependable freight services linking North America and other global hubs to Nigeria.

He explained that what started as logistics support for industry colleagues evolved into a full-service freight company handling oil and gas equipment, mining assets, construction machinery, agricultural cargo, aviation components and automobile shipments.

According to him, the firm now manages heavy and time-sensitive cargo, deploying ocean freight for large industrial equipment and air freight for urgent components required at project sites.

“Our model is simple. Once clients identify their equipment needs, we handle delivery from origin to deployment. Reliability, speed and strong client relationships define our operations,” he said.

The company currently supports several indigenous oil service firms, coordinating logistics for wireline operations, pumping services and field equipment as operators expand activities in response to production targets.

Drawing from his experience in drilling and well completions, Onwughalu described Nigeria’s local content drive as a turning point for the petroleum industry, noting that indigenous firms are increasingly delivering services once dominated by international operators.

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“The capacity of local companies is growing fast. At SAIPEC, Nigerian firms are showcasing advanced services and technologies. The ecosystem has matured and logistics demand continues to rise,” he said.

While acknowledging progress, he identified financing constraints and high import duties on critical equipment as lingering challenges.

He called for sustained government support for indigenous firms investing in vessels, rigs and heavy machinery, noting that such assets require huge capital outlay.

“Lower import duties and targeted incentives will improve project economics and speed up production timelines. Achieving two million barrels per day will require deliberate support for indigenous operators,” he said.

Onwughalu added that the industry is entering a new growth phase driven by higher production ambitions, stronger local participation and rising operational demand.

He said logistics companies such as Jenik Freight are positioning themselves as key enablers in Nigeria’s petroleum value chain by linking global equipment markets with domestic operational needs and strengthening indigenous enterprise in national development.