The Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has appealed to Equipment, Procurement, and Construction companies that exited Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to return.

Speaking on Monday at the 2025 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigerian Council, Lokpobiri said the administration of President Bola Tinubu has taken significant steps to make Nigeria more attractive to investors.

“I would like to use this opportunity to make a strong case to Engineering, Procurement, and Construction companies that have previously operated in Nigeria and have since exited. The current administration has worked tirelessly to ensure a more stable and investment-friendly business environment,” he said.

The Minister emphasized the vital role EPC companies play in the energy sector and urged them to return, describing Nigeria as a reliable and rewarding destination for investment.

“With reforms given by the Petroleum Industry Act and other strategic incentives, Nigeria is positioned as a dependable and rewarding destination for EPC companies. We recognise the pivotal role EPC companies play in infrastructure development, project execution, and technology transfer within the energy sector. Therefore, we invite you to return, reinvest, and become part of Nigeria’s renewed journey toward energy security and economic prosperity,” Lokpobiri stated.

Nigeria was once home to several prominent EPC companies such as Willbros and McDermott. However, the sector is now grappling with a shortage of EPC contractors, particularly affecting operations in the deepwater blocks.

Earlier reports indicate that around 220 oil blocks remain idle across various onshore and offshore basins in Nigeria.

According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, 59 of these inactive blocks are located in the deep offshore.

As Africa intensifies efforts to explore and develop its petroleum resources for revenue generation and a balanced energy mix, the Minister stressed the importance of building the human capacity required to drive and sustain this growth.

He noted that the federal government remains committed to training and equipping Nigerians with the necessary skills to stay competitive and relevant in the rapidly evolving global energy landscape.