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30 YEARS AFTER, NESTOIL CONTINUES TO LEAD INNOVATION IN LOCAL CONTENT

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If the story of Nigerian local content will be told, the impacts of the Nestoil Group will be a recurring theme of any such discussion. This is because, since its entrance into the oil and gas sector in 1991, 19 years before the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) 2010, all of its activities has been to grow the sector for the economic development of the country.

From a staff strength of about 10 persons when Nestoil started from a one-room office on Idumagbo Avenue on Lagos Island in 1991, after its founder Dr Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi had decided to give up his trading business to chart a new course in his entrepreneurial journey – the Oil and Gas industry, it has grown into a conglomerate with more than 1,500 employees.
The Nestoil group now renders services across the Oil and Gas Pipeline Construction, Pressure Vessel Manufacturing, Civil Construction Works, Dredging, Horizontal Directional Drilling, Major Steel Fabrication, Aviation, Exploration & Production, Drilling, Engineering and Dry-Docking Services.

It would be recalled that when Azudialu-Obiejesi ventured into the Oil & gas industry, Local Content in the industry was still a fantasy. He saw the landscape move from a tranquil one to a stormy one with locals demanding more say in the mining of “black-gold”.

After nearly 20 years of literarily weathering the storm alone in an industry dominated by foreign service companies, the government finally signed the Nigeria Content Bill into law and set up the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as a watchdog to enforce compliance and protect the interest of local players in the industry. This has seen the emergence of new indigenous players in the Oil and Gas ecosystem. The Nestoil Group Chairman did not need an enabling law. He dared to thread where others had failed.
Leading Local Content with Innovation
With the reputation of creating novelty from challenges and which has been passed to all staff as the company culture, it wasn’t totally a thing of shock to observers when Nestoil -through one of its strategic business units, Neconde – announced the landmark Alternative Evacuation System (AES) to combat the incessant crude oil thefts and system shutdowns caused by vandalism.

In the last 47 years, oil-producing companies have used the 200km-long Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP) in transporting crude oil to the Forcados Oil Terminal. However, frequent shutdowns due to vandalism and oil theft as well as technical challenges on the TFP have made many producers unable to meet export targets, with some of the crudes also stolen. This is what AET was created to address. This innovation was an accidental discovery due to one of the regular system shutdowns on the TFP that almost derailed the trajectory to grow their production to 60,000 barrels of oil per day, after crossing the 50,000-mark in February 2016.

Though the repairs eventually took 16 months before the pipeline could come on stream, the combination of technology, logistics and then resilience from the team made the AET possible which kept them in business.
This could have looked impossible during the conceptualization but the doggedness of the founder that is visible from top management to the last worker has earned the Nestoil brand the ‘’King of the Swamps’’ appellation. This came about due to past projects done exceedingly well.
One of such is the Shell Nembe-Cawthorne Channel Trunk Line Replacement Project (NCTL) project. This was the largest single pipeline construction under the SPDC Joint Ventures Asset Integrity Programme that replaced more than 1000km of deteriorated major pipelines and flowlines in Nigeria. The 97km Package A of this project was executed by Nestoil under the leadership of Dr Azudialu-Obiejesi. This project involved major construction in a harsh mangrove swamp terrain and traversed 3 cluster communities and hundred autonomous communities in both Bayelsa and Rivers state of Nigeria. Nestoil completed this project one month ahead of schedule without a single fatality. 99 per cent of the workforce in this project were Nigerians including the Project Manager. This pipeline can evacuate about 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The Shell Kolo Creek Trunk Line (KCTL) Replacement Project is another project that validates the brand’s doggedness and innovation. This project, which is a first of its kind involved a method of pipeline installation that preserves the delicate natural environment of the Niger Delta. It is well known that the Niger Delta is an incredibly well-endowed ecosystem that contains one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity in addition to supporting abundant flora and fauna and more species of freshwater fish than any ecosystem in West Africa. The fact that this pipeline was laid by Nigerian engineers without disrupting this unique environment is quite remarkable.
One project that may have thoroughly tested Nestoil’s resolve to deliver at all times is the Obiafu, Obrikom, Oben (OB3) gas pipeline. The parts of the project Nestoil is working on are the swampy areas starting from Omoku, Rivers State to Delta State. The entire area goes underwater in the rainy season hampering work on the pipeline. Part of the Nestoil scope is to cross the 48-inch diameter pipeline under the bed of the River Niger for over two kilometers. This has never been done anywhere in Nigeria but Azudialu-Obiejesi is confident that despite setbacks, Nestoil will deliver on this project sooner rather than later.
The 48-inch diameter and 67-kilometre long gas pipeline is the largest gas pipeline in Nigeria and it’s expected to boost domestic gas supply by two billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) when it begins operation.
The activities of Nestoil and its subsidiaries like Energy Works Technologies (EWT), IMPaC, B&Q Dredging, Hammakopp Consortium, Scorpio Drilling, Neconde Energy, Nesthak, Shipside Drydock, Gobowen E&P, and Century Power Generation Limited – in the energy ecosystem, has led observers to call it the local content success story.
The various well-equipped SBU’s, fuelled by the local content act, were created at different fora during the evolution of the oil and gas sector, according to Azudialu-Obiejesi, upon the identification of insightful business opportunities from needs that did not have readily available or sufficient in-country solutions.
Next 30 Years
The next 30 years will surely be more interesting as the company is set to proffer more workable solutions to the economic development of the country.
Through the execution of the various projects, the expertise and technical know-how of Nestoil and its staff have greatly improved that it is trusted by IOC’s and local partners to deliver on its mandate, no matter the tough terrain where the projects are located.
After nearly 30 years of running the business, Dr Azudialu-Obiejesi believes it is time to hand over to the next generation. His shoes may appear too large to fill but he disagrees. He says he has seen enough talents within his pool of employees that are driven by uncommon passion – a restless spirit seeking answers to Nigeria’s engineering and technology challenges, especially in the Oil and Gas industry.

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Journalists for Good Governance Shines Searchlight on Local Government Administration

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Journalists for Good Governance Shines Searchlight on Local Government Administration

…Calls for Accountability in Nigeria’s Grassroots Governance

 

LAGOS, Nigeria — A civil society coalition known as Journalists for Good Governance(JGG) has intensified public debate on transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s local government system, urging media professionals, civil society actors, and citizens to hold grassroots leaders accountable.

Speaking an event in Lagos recently, the acting chairman of the society, Comrade Bunmi Obarotimi said that despite reforms such as the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling granting financial autonomy to all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), systemic challenges continues to hinder effective service delivery and responsible stewardship of public funds.

“Local governments are the closest tier of government to the people — yet too often they remain the least transparent. Without civic oversight and vibrant media, promises of autonomy ring hollow.” the acting chairman said.

The Journalist for Good Governance emphasised crucial roles that journalists can play in uncovering discrepancies in council spending, flagging poor service delivery, and educating citizens on their rights. Their call comes amid wider efforts by media and civic organisations to bridge accountability gaps. The civil society initiatives had previously launched monitoring campaigns to track local government expenditures and have been quietly advocating for transparency in how public money is deployed.

The leaders of the Journalists for Good Governance (JGG) highlighted the importance of physical assessment and citizens engagement on projects to boost people’s confidence, urging local councils to adopt open data platforms and proactive information dissemination in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. Experts say the majority of LGAs currently lack operational websites or digital portals, further limiting public scrutiny.

The Journalists for Good Governance initiative aligns with sustained advocacy by civil society groups and governance experts calling for a collective approach to strengthening democratic accountability, and has decided to engage in critical and holistic assessments of how Local Governments is being run and the impact and quality of projects they embark-on and to address deficits in transparency and public trust.
Meanwhile, some state governments have signalled support for improved community engagement. In Lagos State, authorities reiterated a commitment to enhancing community media platforms as vehicles for civic participation and accountability at the grassroots level.

The renewed spotlight on local government administration has reignited public debate over fiscal responsibility and priorities. Controversies such as the widely criticised Adamawa council chairmen’s wives trip to Istanbul — which drew public outrage for perceived misuse of public funds — underscore why watchdog groups say stronger oversight mechanisms are urgently needed at the grassroots.
Citizens and activists have welcomed the journalists’ initiative, calling for sustained media engagement that goes beyond headlines to influence policy and accountability reform.
The civic rights advocates note that real change will require robust legal frameworks, a free press, and empowered communities equipped to demand transparency at every level of governance.
As Journalists for Good Governance mobilises its members, the coming months are likely to see heightened media attention on grassroots administration — from council budgets and service delivery to the enforcement of public information laws and digital transparency initiatives.

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ANOTHER PROPHECY FULFILLMENT BY PROPHET KINGSLEY AITAFO OVER THE EXIT OF DR. KENOLY, ANNOUNCING FEBRUARY’S OPEN PROPHETIC REVIVAL

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ANOTHER PROPHECY FULFILLMENT BY PROPHET KINGSLEY AITAFO OVER THE EXIT OF DR. KENOLY, ANNOUNCING FEBRUARY’S OPEN PROPHETIC REVIVAL

ANOTHER PROPHECY FULFILLMENT BY PROPHET KINGSLEY AITAFO OVER THE EXIT OF DR. KENOLY, ANNOUNCING FEBRUARY’S OPEN PROPHETIC REVIVAL

 

– Another Prophecy Fulfillment by Prophet Kingsley Aitafo Following the Passing of Ron Kenoly Ahead of February Open Prophetic Revival

 

– Prophet Kingsley Aitafo Records Another Prophecy Fulfillment as February Open Prophetic Revival Is Announced

 

In the released prophecies for 2026, renowned Nigerian cleric, Prophet Kingsley Aitafo, shared a series of revelations touching on Nigeria’s economy, global events, political transitions, natural disasters, religious transformations, and the future of world leaders.

 

 

During a special prophetic session, the prophet stated that he foresaw the departure of two world-renowned musicians in 2026 and urged the Nigerian people and the global community to pray for them.

 

ANOTHER PROPHECY FULFILLMENT BY PROPHET KINGSLEY AITAFO OVER THE EXIT OF DR. KENOLY, ANNOUNCING FEBRUARY’S OPEN PROPHETIC REVIVAL

 

He urged Nigerians and everyone around the globe to pray for the musicians, among other prophecies, and already gave insight concerning them.

 

On February 3, 2026, American gospel singer, songwriter, and worship leader Ron Kenoly passed away at the age of 81. Widely known as the “Professor of Praise,” Kenoly was celebrated for anthems such as “Majesty” and “Lift Him Up,” which have significantly influenced modern congregational worship around the world.

 

 

He was recognized as a pioneer of the contemporary praise and worship movement, leading Scripture-based worship services that became widely adopted in churches across different nations and cultures.

 

The development has been described by followers of Prophet Kingsley Aitafo as a confirmation of the prophecy earlier declared in the year.

 

Meanwhile, Prophet Kingsley Aitafo, leader and shepherd in charge of Oneness in Christ, in conjunction with CCC Living Grace Tabernacle, invites everyone to its February Open Revival. It is a prophetic service determined to change lives through miracles, healings, signs, and wonders.

 

 

It is not an ordinary service; it is another time for a divine encounter where your faith is strengthened, prayers are answered, and breakthroughs and favour are about to rain. With its theme — Jesus Christ is the same forever — the revival is promised to release the power of Jesus Christ like never before. It is a period of shift and divine encounter.

 

This revival service is said to hold on the 25th of February, 2026, from 5pm – 8pm at 20, Showole Street, Ewupe, Singer Sango, Ogun State.

 

It is a season where God is ready to reveal Himself like never before. Members of the public are invited to attend.

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GEN CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE COMMENDS STATE-FEDERAL COLLABORATION IN ZAMFARA

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GEN CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE COMMENDS STATE-FEDERAL COLLABORATION IN ZAMFARA

 

The Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa Support Initiative (GCGMSI) has commended the Zamfara State Government for its decisive contribution to security operations through the donation of newly acquired armoured personnel carriers (APCs), surveillance drones, and other critical operational equipment to troops and security agencies in the state.

 

This commendation was contained in a statement signed by the Convener of the GCGMSI, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, and made available to the press.

 

The equipment was formally commissioned on Wednesday, February 18, by the Grand Patron of the GCGMSI and Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, OFR (rtd.), in a ceremony at the Government House, Gusau. The event was attended by senior military officers, heads of security agencies, and top officials of the Zamfara State Government.

 

The GCGMSI, in its statement, hailed the donation as a “transformative and timely intervention” that aligns perfectly with its core objective of advocating for and supporting tangible measures that enhance the operational capacity and welfare of Nigeria’s security forces. The Initiative praised Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration for moving beyond rhetoric to actionable, material support, describing the move as a “blueprint for state-level collaboration in national security.”

 

“The provision of these assets by the Zamfara State Government is a testament to visionary leadership and a profound commitment to the peace and stability of its people,” the GCGMSI statement read. “It represents the exact kind of synergistic partnership between state and federal authorities that the GCGMSI champions. This initiative will significantly close operational gaps, boost the confidence of our gallant troops, and send a strong message to criminal elements.”

 

Speaking at the commissioning, General Musa emphasized that sustained collaboration is indispensable in confronting the nation’s evolving security challenges. He specifically commended Governor Lawal for his proactive support.

 

“Governor Dauda Lawal has demonstrated exemplary leadership and an unwavering dedication to the security of Zamfara State,” the Defence Minister stated. “The provision of these armoured vehicles, surveillance drones, and other operational equipment will undoubtedly boost the morale and operational effectiveness of our troops and other security agencies on the ground. This is a commendable effort that should be emulated by others.”

 

The newly commissioned assets, which include multiple APCs and advanced surveillance drones, are expected to dramatically enhance the mobility, protection, intelligence-gathering, and rapid response capabilities of security forces, particularly in the state’s remote and difficult terrains where anti-banditry operations are ongoing.

 

In his remarks, Governor Lawal reiterated his administration’s steadfast commitment to being a reliable partner in the security architecture. He urged security agencies to deploy the new resources responsibly and effectively to safeguard lives and property.

 

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence, reaffirmed its commitment to continuing and deepening such partnerships with state governments across the nation to strengthen coordination and resource allocation in the collective fight against insecurity.

 

The GCGMSI concluded its statement by urging other state governments to take a cue from Zamfara’s “bold and pragmatic” approach, affirming that such concrete support is vital for achieving lasting peace and security across Nigeria.

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