The chairman and group CEO of Oilserv Group, Dr Emeka Okwuosa, has reiterated the need for cross-border collaboration and data accuracy as tools in unlocking the prosperity of Nigeria and other African countries in Natural Resources.
Speaking at a Local Content Plenary Session co-hosted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Ghana Petroleum Commission, themed “Cross-border Projects and Knowledge Exchange,” during the just concluded AOW Energy Week, Accra, Ghana, he opted for visa restriction relaxation for professionals.
Okwuosa, who was represented by managing director of Frazimex Engineering Limited, Engr. Chuka Eze, stated that “First, there is a need to understand the importance of continental synergy, as Africa’s true prosperity lies in its ability to work as one, sharing expertise, infrastructure, and ambition to drive collective growth.”
He stressed that continental synergy is not just important but indispensable, allowing nations to tap into existing expertise and proven technical capabilities rather than “reinvent the wheel.”
“Given the operational complexities of the upstream sector, there is a need for African countries to learn from those who have already mastered the process, leveraging their knowledge to extract resources efficiently and sustainably. For Oilserv’s cooperation across the entire oil and gas value chain, beginning with upstream development is the key to unlocking shared prosperity and solving Africa’s challenges the African way.
“I am calling for unity and innovation that inspire the audience, envisioning an Africa that harnesses its own resources, expertise, and partnerships to power a brighter, self-defined energy future.”
Okwuosa highlighted the critical need for accurate and accessible data, noting that sound decisions and wise investments depend on reliable information that gives investors and policymakers the confidence to act boldly.
He pointed to the NCDMB’s initiatives—such as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) and the Service Providers Qualification System—as examples of how transparent platforms can bridge information gaps, enabling indigenous firms to anticipate projects and position for partnerships. In his words, such registries and databases serve as the “infrastructure of trust,” reducing asymmetries that often exclude local firms while giving operators confidence in indigenous capacity.
“That qualification database; a curated, competency-based registry, gives operators confidence that they can source fit-for-purpose indigenous contractors, and it reduces information asymmetries that often block local participation He added that private and quasi-industry bodies such as PETAN (Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria) and the emerging African Partner Pool (championed by Ibrahima Talla) build on that foundation by creating sectoral seals of quality and continent-wide opportunity listings. Taken together, these platforms are the infrastructure of trust: searchable records, periodic assessments, and a visible pipeline of work.”
He added that Oilserv’s success story is emblematic of how deliberate capacity development and persistence can yield continental impact. “What began with modest local contracts; ‘refurbishing of swimming pool,’ has matured into a three-decade journey that positions Oilserv as a trusted Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor across multiple African markets. Today, Oilserv operates across Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Togo and Uganda, providing a model for how indigenous firms can scale technically and geographically.
“The significance of Oilserv’s footprint goes beyond company growth. Each project delivers direct economic value, infrastructure that raises domestic energy security, while generating secondary impacts: local jobs, skills transfer, supply-chain development and structured graduate training that links young engineers to large, complex projects. These outcomes embody the NCDMB’s mandate: transform local content into real competence and commercial opportunity.”
He noted that Frazimex plays the complementary technical role: engineering design and project definition that make large projects buildable and bankable. Two flagship projects discussed at the plenary illustrate the point, which are “the Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) Gas Infrastructure, as Frazimex executed the engineering design for a pipeline and gas treatment complex that includes a 48-inch X 128km pipeline and a 2bscf/day treatment plant configured in four trains (each rated 500mscf).
“Oilserv executed procurement and construction; the system is now delivering substantive volumes of gas (above 300mscf at the time of reporting). That coupling, rigorous front-end engineering followed by disciplined construction execution, demonstrates a proven African delivery chain for large gas assets.
“Also, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Pipeline (Segment 1), a 40-inch X 614km pipeline designed to route gas from Nigeria’s middle belt to the north, AKK demonstrates Oilserv’s capacity to execute across “unimaginable terrains,” applying engineering solutions at scale. These projects indicates that, Africa has the technical know-how to design and deliver world-scale energy infrastructure; second, a close collaboration between engineering houses and EPC contractors creates a replicable template for cross-border projects.”
However, Okwuosa, who called for the relaxation of visa restrictions across African borders, added that this will impede personnel exchange, skills transfer, and rapid project mobilisation.
He said, “There is a need for mobility frameworks, a simple yet transformative step to ease movement across borders, foster collaboration, and accelerate the exchange of skills and technology.
“I am calling on governments across the continent to implement business-friendly policies. Clients and customers are doing their best to bring projects to life, but the right policies must be available to help solve continental problems.
“We do have problems that we need to solve, we do have the natural resources in abundant, the skill and although there’s room for improvements to solve these problems; we just need to move into implementation mode so that by the time we come back here or any other forum next time, we will be looking at the outcomes of the various conversations we have made so far.
“Most importantly, the continental synergy, we can’t just walk alone; there are some synergies we can leverage on. Take what has worked best in one country and leverage it in another country in order to optimise the resources and get a better desired output.”
Meanwhile, other stakeholders call for synergy among players to foster growth in Africa’s oil and gas sector.
The head of energy policy, planning, and development at AFREC, SENEGAL, Yagouba Traore, said, “There is a need for more collaborative work towards championing robust growth in the Africa energy industry. We can do more, and the capacity is available to champion whatever we want to achieve.”
