The Managing Director of NNPC Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO), Salahuddeen Tahir, has identified strong indigenous capacity, strategic collaboration and execution excellence as the three critical factors required to unlock sustainable investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Tahir disclosed this during a panel session at the ongoing Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) 2026, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The panel, themed “Policy in Practice: Aligning Fiscal Strategy, Foreign Investment and Local Content for Sustainable Growth in Nigeria,” examined practical approaches to strengthening Nigeria’s energy sector through effective policy implementation, investment-friendly reforms and enhanced local participation.
Speaking during the session, Tahir stressed that attracting long-term investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry required more than favourable policies, noting that the country must deliberately strengthen indigenous capacity, foster strategic partnerships and deliver projects with excellence.
According to him, NETCO is reinforcing indigenous capacity across three strategic areas human capital development, material resources and access to finance to position Nigerian companies to compete effectively in delivering large-scale energy projects.
He explained that technically demanding projects such as Bonga North and Bonga South-West require indigenous companies with the necessary technology, engineering expertise, financial strength and proven execution capability to inspire investor confidence and deliver value.
The NETCO Managing Director noted that the company, through nearly four decades of operations, has remained at the forefront of advancing Nigerian content by developing local engineering expertise, transferring knowledge and creating greater opportunities for indigenous participation across the oil and gas value chain.
He maintained that sustained collaboration among government, industry operators, financial institutions and indigenous service providers would be critical to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s energy sector and achieving sustainable growth.
The panel session was moderated by Engr. Joseph Nwakwue of Zera Advisory and Consulting and featured chief executives from Renaissance Africa Energy, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, Heirs Energies, Chevron Nigeria Limited and TotalEnergies, who shared insights on aligning fiscal strategy, foreign investment and local content policies to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global energy market.
The discussions formed part of activities at SPE NAICE 2026, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, regulators and technical experts to explore practical solutions for enhancing investment, promoting innovation and advancing sustainable development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
