Engr. Chuka Eze, Managing Director of Frazimex Engineering Limited, a subsidiary of Oilserv Nigeria Limited, says Nigeria’s gas-driven industrialisation will depend less on gas availability and more on how effectively the resource is extracted, processed and transported to end users.
Speaking during a media briefing on the sidelines of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026, Eze said gas in itself does not drive economic growth unless the supporting infrastructure is in place.
“Gas is already in our water and in our food. It is a catalyst that will drive industrialisation, bring power to people and make life easier,” he said. “But it is not the gas in the ground that will create this economic boom. It is the gas that is extracted, processed and transported to where it is needed.”
Eze explained that Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” agenda must be understood as a balance of demand, supply and infrastructure, noting that oil and gas engineering companies play a central role in bridging the gap between gas production points and consumption centres.
According to him, while Nigeria has developed strong gas policies over the years, the immediate challenge is execution and investment.
“We have very good policies in place, but what we need now is action,” he said. “The investment has to come in. We already have the transportation framework, and we have credible Nigerian companies that can design and build the gas infrastructure required.”
Providing updates on key national gas projects, Eze confirmed that the main pipeline under the OB3 gas project was completed in December last year and that sections constructed by Oilserv have been commissioned.
“The pipeline is currently flowing about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas,” he said, adding that the OB3 line is expected to feed into the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline once back-end works and remaining connections are completed.
Addressing concerns around delays in some gas projects, Eze said financing remains a major issue, particularly for large-scale infrastructure requiring long-term capital.
“Every investor wants clarity on returns,” he said. “Funding challenges have affected timelines, even where project value is clearly established.”
Eze outlined Oilserv’s role as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) service provider across several strategic gas assets, including OB3, AKK, ANOH and Assa North–Ohaji South.
He described the OB3 pipeline as a 48-inch, 120–124 kilometre gas line supported by a gas treatment plant with a processing capacity of two billion standard cubic feet per day through four processing trains.
“OILSERV handled the engineering and construction of key sections of the pipeline, and those sections have been commissioned,” he said.
On the AKK pipeline, Eze said Frazimex Engineering was responsible for the detailed engineering of Segment 1, covering a 40-inch, 304-kilometre pipeline with multiple block valve stations, pigging facilities and terminal gas stations in Ajaokuta and Abuja.
“All the detailed engineering was done in Nigeria by Nigerians,” he said. “That shows clearly that we have the technical capacity to execute critical gas infrastructure locally.”
He disclosed that over 200 Nigerian engineers across multiple disciplines were involved in delivering the AKK engineering design, adding that Frazimex has also provided engineering services over the past four years to LNG projects, Aradel and Seplat.
Responding to questions on capacity development, Eze said Oilserv operates a structured graduate engineering programme, recruiting 20 fresh graduates annually into a three-year training scheme that combines classroom learning with on-site project exposure.
“We are intentional about building capacity,” he said. “Every year, we take in 20 graduates, train them across our projects and prepare them to deliver future infrastructure.”
On community engagement, Eze said Oilserv adopts an inclusive approach that goes beyond securing permits.
“We integrate communities into our projects,” he said. “On the AKK project alone, we worked with over 100 host communities, trained locals in automated welding, and engaged them as service providers and suppliers.”
He added that similar community participation models are being applied on other projects, including the Ubeta gas pipeline for TotalEnergies, which is expected to be completed by June or July.
“When communities are treated as stakeholders, not obstacles, it improves project delivery and sustainability,” Eze said.
The media briefing concluded with Eze reaffirming that Nigeria has the gas, the talent and the market needed to drive industrial growth, stressing that sustained investment and timely project execution remain the final pieces of the puzzle.
