In a shocking revelation, an industry expert, the regional manager Africa and Middle East of Seabery, Abdennour Edouieb, has revealed that one hundred per-cent of welders in Nigeria's oil and gas steel sector are foreign workers.

The expert also raises concerns about the lack of opportunities for local welders in a country with a population of over 200 million people.

Edouieb, disclosed this in Abuja, during a meeting with steel stakeholders in the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), stressed the importance of creating a well-organized and structured sector that would not only include local specifications but also set local standards.

The expert highlighted the presence of a significant loophole in the system, as none of these foreign welders have the necessary licenses to work in the oil and gas industry to train more Nigerians to boost the steel sector.

He noted that Seabery in partnership with Nigeria's Soldamatic is set to train Nigerians to bridge the gap between international and local welders in the steel sector.

He said: “According to Nigeria's data, one hundred percent of welders in the oil and gas sector are from outside Nigeria with the population of 200 million people; none of the welders is licensed to be in oil and gas.

“So there is a hole in the system. There is something that is not straight, there is something that should be fixed. We can start from modernization and digitalization of the system so we can reach the world standards, then we can make the regulations or the rules.

“So that there will be not just some kind of random training, but it will be a specific and organized sector that has local specifications, and also has some local standards."

He said that the act has obviously poses a serious challenge to the development and growth of local talent, as the valuable experience and expertise gained in this sector remains inaccessible to Nigerian welders.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Abuja Chapter, Engr. Odama Ojeka Mathew, called on the federal government to establish a framework that would support the training and licensing of local welders, ensuring their participation and contribution to the oil and gas steel sector.

He said: “It is necessary to establish regulations and rules that are specific to the Nigerian context. This would enable the industry to develop a tailored approach and meet national standards.

“This revelation serves as a wake-up call for Nigerian authorities to take immediate action to rectify this situation and promote the inclusion of local welders in the oil and gas sector. By investing in training programs, improving industry regulations, and incentivizing local participation, Nigeria can tap into the immense potential of its population and bolster its indigenous talent pool."