Indigenous workforce leads charge at ExxonMobil’s offshore operations

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — In a major step toward achieving Nigeria’s local content aspirations, the majority of the workforce at ExxonMobil’s Erha Floating Production, Storage and Offloading, FPSO, facility are indigenous personnel, a development the federal government says reflects growing technical capacity among Nigerians in the oil and gas industry.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, who disclosed this after his inspection visit to the Erha FPSO recently, said the achievement validates the country’s in-country value retention agenda and underscores the success of local capacity development policies.

“I am particularly encouraged by the fact that indigenous personnel make up the majority of the workforce. This reinforces our in-country value retention agenda,” Lokpobiri said.

He added that the presence of highly skilled Nigerians in critical offshore roles demonstrates that the government’s policies on local content are producing results and strengthening the domestic energy workforce.

“As a government, our policies and continued support will remain focused on promoting facilities like this—those that not only contribute to production but also strengthen local capacity and promote lasting growth in Nigeria’s energy sector,” the Minister emphasized.

ExxonMobil’s integration of Nigerian professionals at various levels of offshore operations aligns with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, framework, which promotes increased participation of local firms and manpower in the oil and gas value chain.

Lokpobiri assured that the government will sustain collaboration with international oil companies to expand skills transfer, create more local opportunities, and ensure sustainable industry growth.