The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has thrown its weight behind MT Valves West Africa’s ambitious plan to establish Nigeria’s first large-scale industrial valve manufacturing facility, following a strategic visit to the firm’s site at the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos.
The proposed facility, projected to produce 15,000 tons of industrial valves annually, will fill a significant gap in Nigeria’s oil and gas supply chain—one currently met entirely by imports.
A delegation from NCDMB, led by Engr. Harmony Kunu, Special Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, and supported by Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, Manager of Media and Publicity, and Ms. Chika Enwerem, Manager of Commercial Ventures, assessed the firm’s operations and received detailed investment plans from MT Valves executives.
Speaking during the inspection, Mr. Thomas Zhang, Managing Director of MT Valves West Africa, and Mr. Elliot Aigbokhade, Sales Director, highlighted that although the company only recently entered Nigeria, it is already a vendor to Shell Nigeria and is fully aligned with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
“We are committed to local value addition, capacity building, and compliance with national development objectives. Our goal is to replicate in Nigeria what we’ve achieved in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai,” Zhang said.
The company, a subsidiary of MT Group, already produces 60,000 tons of industrial valves annually from its operations in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. The Nigerian facility will not only focus on manufacturing but also on maintenance, repairs, and training, positioning it as a regional hub for valve technology and servicing.
Boosting Local Content and Industrialization
NCDMB officials welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its alignment with the Board’s core mission of domestication and domiciliation of key oil and gas operations. They urged the company to clearly define its investment milestones, local content targets, and economic contributions.
“The Nigerian Content Act supports initiatives like this because they drive job creation and industrial growth in line with President Bola Tinubu’s economic vision,” said Engr. Kunu.
The Board invited MT Valves to participate in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), scheduled for May 20–22, 2025, where it can connect with major industry players and learn about upcoming project opportunities.
As part of follow-up engagements, MT Valves extended invitations to key government and industry stakeholders—including NLNG and NNPC Ltd—to tour its high-capacity facilities in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, offering firsthand insight into the scale of its proposed Nigerian investment.
