
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially announced a ban on the importation of oil pipelines into the country. The Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made this declaration on Thursday during the commissioning of Monarch Alloys’ 33LPE and concrete weight coating facility located in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
Lokpobiri emphasised the need for Nigeria to end its dependence on foreign pipelines and prioritise the patronage of locally manufactured products. He specifically directed the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to halt the issuance of waivers for the importation of Chinese pipelines.
According to the minister, this decision aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to strengthening local industries and boosting job creation. He noted that while pipelines remain a critical part of the oil and gas sector, Nigeria must build local capacity and retain economic value within its borders.
“I want to publicly declare that under this government, dumping of imported pipelines will be a thing of the past. No more waivers for Chinese products,” Lokpobiri stated.
The minister expressed concerns about the sustainability of local manufacturing firms, warning that without adequate patronage, companies like Monarch Alloys could struggle to survive. He added that Nigeria’s outdated oil pipeline infrastructure — some of which, he said, are over 60 years old — creates opportunities for midstream and downstream sector investments.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Alloys, Atul Chaudhary, announced the company’s resolve to end steel and pipeline importation in Nigeria. He revealed that Monarch Alloys had rapidly grown since its establishment in May 2023 and now boasts the capacity to produce up to 500 pipes per day, with an annual production potential of 2 million square meters.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, hailed the launch of the facility as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards building self-sufficiency in oil and gas infrastructure. He described the project as a testament to the success of local content policy and a sign of growing confidence in Nigeria’s industrial capacity.
“This facility strengthens our value chain and showcases what’s possible when local capacity meets national vision,” Ogbe added.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting indigenous industries and warned against the continuous importation of oil and gas materials, which he said stifles local investment and job creation.
He concluded by charging stakeholders to work collectively in ensuring that facilities like Monarch Alloys receive the necessary patronage to thrive and position Nigeria as a hub for oil and gas services in Africa.