Energy
FG Commissions Gas Leak Detection Device, Printed Circuit Board Facility
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday marked a breakthrough in the research and development landscape of the Nigerian oil and gas industry with the commissioning of Amal Technologies Gas Leak Detection Device and Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Facility at Idu, Abuja.
The Corporate Communications Department of the NCDMB made the disclosure in a statement circulated electronically on Thursday.
According to the statement, the commissioning was performed by the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Aleke, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande and the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
Biztellers reports that the project was initiated by Amal Technologies Ltd, while the NCDMB backed it with financial and institutional support, under the leadership of the immediate past Executive Secretary, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote.
Engr. Wabote spearheaded the Research and Development roadmap as a key element of Nigerian Content development in the oil and gas industry.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri described the commissioning as a significant landmark in Nigeria’s quest to promote a research culture through the nurturing of innovation-driven startup companies, adding that it represents a breakthrough in local manufacturing of electronic circuitry and devices.
Represented by the Director Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Kamoru Busari, the Minister noted that Amal Technologies was one of the proposals that have benefited from the NCDMB’s Research and Innovation intervention.
He indicated that the innovation adopted the Internet of Things (IOT) technology to introduce into the market a device that generates a short message system (SMS) and calls on the phones of homeowners in the event of a gas leak.
The facility equally has the capability for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing, he added.
He expressed the view that the deployment of the gas leak detection device provided a significant safety tool that will accelerate the adoption of gas as a preferred source of energy for homes, transportation, and industry.
He further pointed out that the job creation potential of Amal Technologies is critical to the creation of a circular economy and aligns with Mr. President’s 8-point agenda for economic recovery.
In his keynote address, Engr. Ogbe stated that the smart gas leak detector research was just a proposal submitted to the Board in 2018.
He said, “the idea was nurtured through the NCDMB incubation process hosted in the Board’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Center (TIIC).
He affirmed that “the recurring menace of gas leaks and explosions leading to heavy losses in human lives, property damage, and pollution of the environment is the problem statement that the device seeks to address.”
According to the ES, Nigeria’s development priorities were trending towards gas-based industrialization with an exponential increase in gas utilization, hence it had become compelling to deploy safety and preventive tools such as the Amal smart gas leak detection to ensure the safety of lives and properties as citizens embrace gas usage.
Dwelling on PCB Manufacturing, the NCDMB’s new boss mentioned that electronics accounted for the largest online spending in Nigeria in 2022 and the Amal technology facility will provide the springboard for the replacement of imported PCBs with locally produced PCBs, in line with the Board’s vision to be the catalyst for the industrialization of the Nigerian economy and its linkage sectors.
“The facility will also generate employment opportunities, pay due taxes, and provide a critical platform for instrumentation and electronics-related Research and development,” he said.
On why the Board invested in Amal Technologies, he explained that NCDMB had developed a strategic roadmap and focussed on the establishment of dedicated funds to support Research, the inauguration of the Nigerian Content Research Council & Technical Advisory Board, and the establishment of Research centers of Excellence among others.
The need to focus on research commercialization, he added, is amplified in the NCDMB Technology Innovation and Incubation policy, which created the TIIC inside the Nigerian Content Towers Yenagoa.
The Chief Executive Officer of Amal Technologies, Shehu Tijani Abdullahi recalled how he secured the Board’s support for the project without having any prior relationship with any member of the agency’s management.
He averred that, “the NCDMB is not about having connections or knowing someone at the top. It is about a team of people that are dedicated to the success and progress of local content in Nigeria. Their firmness and dedication to local content continue to give me hope for the country of Nigeria.”
He noted that Amal Technologies had in three years, secured two patents and disrupted traditional approaches to research and development, expressing hope that with the full support of NCDMB, the company would make lasting contributions to various sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, power, agriculture, and beyond.
Beyond producing the Gas Detection device, the chief executive confirmed that the “facility has the capacity to produce over two million Advanced Smart Electric Meters— a significant contribution to the federal government’s National Mass Metering Program (NMMP). This initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to address the current challenges in electrical metering in Nigeria and supporting the government’s efforts to ensure a reliable and efficient power supply.”
He also stated that the facility holds immense potential for other sectors, including automobile manufacturing, medical advancements, telecommunications, agriculture, and more.
In his comments, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at the NCDMB, Abdulmalik Halilu remarked that the Board subjected the innovation to detailed regulatory processes and proof-of-concept checks before deciding to take equity in the project.
He mentioned that the business case showed that the facility had the potential to create over 400 jobs, from the conception to production stages and its annual turnover prospects is about N9.3bn. He confirmed that the project’s structure is sustainable and consistent, hinting that the Board soon would be unveiling similar innovations that it had incubated.
Amid a slight increase in gas production, Nigeria’s oil output experienced a substantial rise in November 2024.
Gas production saw a 2.9% month-on-month (MoM) increase, reaching 2,292,951 million standard cubic feet (MSCF) from 2,292,471 MSCF in October.
However, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the growth was minimal, with a mere 0.02% increase in output for the first 11 months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
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The latest gas report from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also revealed a 1.6% increase in domestic gas consumption.
A total of 606,658 MSCF was consumed locally, compared to 596,861 MSCF during the same period in 2023. Gas exports, meanwhile, rose by 6.9%, reaching 829,156 MSCF, up from 775,547 MSCF in the corresponding period of 2023.
This growth in exports continues to play a vital role in bolstering Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
Despite these positive figures, sources close to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) noted that oil remains the dominant force in Nigeria’s energy sector, with gas taking a secondary role.
On the other hand, the NUPRC’s oil production report revealed a remarkable surge.
Nigeria’s oil output, including condensates, rose by 13.3% year-on-year in November 2024, reaching 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.5 million bpd in November 2023. Month-on-month, oil production also increased by 10%, from 1.5 million bpd in October 2024.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), discussed the broader structural dynamics within Nigeria’s economy, highlighting the dominance of the non-oil sector.
In his 2025 Outlook, Dr. Yusuf noted that the non-oil sector contributed 94.43% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q3 2024, while the oil sector accounted for just 5.57%.
“However, the economy is characterized by a paradox of the oil sector contributing an estimated 90% of foreign exchange earnings, while the non-oil sector accounts for about 10%,” Dr. Yusuf said.
“This is a structural shortcoming in our economy which needs to be addressed, as sectors that contribute hugely to GDP have no corresponding contribution to foreign exchange earnings.”
He further emphasized the need to address the challenges faced by the non-oil sector, which include issues related to productivity, infrastructure, funding, and regulatory constraints.
“The policy implication is that more should be done to fix the challenges of productivity and competitiveness of the non-oil sector of the economy,” Dr. Yusuf added
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced that the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Warri, Delta State, has become operational.
This is coming about a month after the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, made the disclosure during a tour of the facility on Monday.
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A video posted by Channels TV on Monday showed Kyari addressing a tour team, which included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
Before the tour commenced, Kyari explained that the inspection aimed to show Nigerians the level of work completed so far.
According to him, although the repairs on the facility are not yet 100 per cent complete, operations have commenced.
He said, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
Located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Warri, the petrochemical plant produces 13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black.
Commissioned in 1978 and managed by NNPC Ltd, the WRPC was built to supply markets in the southern and southwestern regions of Nigeria.
The mechanical completion of the facility was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, according to the Spokesperson of the NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
“Warri should be done by Q1 (first quarter) 2024,” Soneye stated.
The WRPC is one of Nigeria’s four refineries. Others include the old and new Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State.
MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, a prominent player in the Nigerian downstream oil industry, has implemented a new petrol price of N935 per litre across all its retail service stations nationwide.
The company has also called on Nigerians to monitor and report any outlets that fail to adhere to the new price structure.
Biztellers reports that this is consequent upon an announcement by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to offer petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets, following a reduction in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre.
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It was gathered that MRS Oil Nigeria Plc has instructed all its outlets to implement the new price immediately, setting up a digital platform and monitoring team to ensure full compliance.
In a statement on Monday night, the company declared, “Petrol is now being sold at N935 at MRS Filling Stations nationwide. If you find any station not following this price, please report it. Call 08009447853 or email: NG-FMKPMGWHISTLEBLOWING@NG.KPMG.COM”
Emphasising the eco-friendly nature of its products, MRS Oil added, “We call on all petrol station owners to join MRS Oil Nigeria Plc in improving the supply chain of our beloved country, ensuring product quality and availability in every corner of Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
In Lagos, commuters were seen queuing at MRS filling stations to purchase petrol, with many expressing their gratitude to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil and Gas, urging other marketers to support the indigenous refinery rather than import off-spec products into the country.
A commuter at the MRS station at Alapere on the Lagos Ibadan Express way, Ibukun Phillips, could not hide her joy as her husband filled up their car.
“I am very happy today. This is a victory for Nigeria,” she said. “The price reduction is the best gift of the season. But beyond just the reduction, we are buying standard, eco-friendly petrol at a lower rate. My husband and I have decided we will only be using MRS from now on because we are confident in the quality of the product and supporting the economy.”
A commercial bus driver, Adio Ajibade described the price reduction as a great relief, especially during the festive season.
“The reduction is a great relief. It will reduce transportation costs and benefit Nigerians. God will continue to bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” he said.
A public affairs analyst and university lecturer, Dr. Tunde Akanni, said the collaboration between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil represents a significant step towards improving the affordability, quality, and sustainability of petroleum products in Nigeria.
According to Dr. Akanni, “this move will not only help ease the financial burden on Nigerians but also promote a more environmentally conscious approach to fuel consumption, benefitting both the economy and public health in the long term.”
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