By Firdaus Jibril
For decades, Nigeria’s energy sector has operated under a quiet, costly absurdity, shipping heavy steel pipelines and offshore structures halfway across the world just to paint them. That reliance on foreign imports didn’t just drain vital foreign exchange but fueled project delays, accelerated pipeline corrosion, and exposed critical infrastructure to devastating leaks.
Industry experts say the consequences go beyond procurement delays. Poor or unsuitable coating systems can accelerate corrosion, weaken pipelines, increase maintenance costs and, in extreme cases, contribute to leaks that threaten both the environment and government revenue.
However, a major shift is underway in Rivers State that aims to flip this dynamic on its head.
Indigenous engineering company Solewant Group is making a bold bet that Nigeria can produce many of these specialised coating solutions locally.
On July 31, the company will commission its Specialty Protective Coatings and Paints (SSPC) manufacturing plant at its industrial park in Alode, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The event is expected to be attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, alongside industry executives and development partners.
As Solewant Group commissions a new specialty protective coatings plant in Rivers State, the project raises a bigger question about Nigeria’s quest to localise industrial manufacturing, cut costs and strengthen its oil and gas value chain.
While the ceremony marks the opening of another manufacturing facility, its significance extends beyond the factory gates. It reflects a broader effort to deepen local content in Nigeria’s energy industry by producing industrial inputs that have traditionally been sourced from foreign manufacturers.
The hidden role of protective coatings
Protective coatings rarely receive public attention, yet they are among the most important materials used in the petroleum industry.
Pipelines transporting crude oil and natural gas operate under harsh conditions that expose them to moisture, chemicals, abrasion and extreme temperatures. Without adequate protection, corrosion can reduce the lifespan of steel infrastructure, increase maintenance costs and compromise operational safety.
The challenge is particularly pronounced for irregular pipeline components such as bends, field joints, risers and tie-ins, where applying protective coatings requires greater precision than on straight pipes.
Recognising this gap, Solewant commissioned a multi-layer pipe bend coating plant in July 2025 to provide specialised coating for non-linear steel pipe structures in line with international standards.
Barely one year later, the company has expanded into manufacturing decorative and industrial paints, epoxy systems, polyurethane coatings, zinc-rich primers and high-performance protective coatings for residential, commercial, marine, offshore and heavy industrial applications.
Reducing dependence on imports
Speaking during a pre-commissioning press conference, Executive Secretary of the Solewant Energy Training Institute (SETI), Dr. Benjamin Ubleble, said Nigeria’s dependence on imported industrial coatings has created avoidable challenges for project execution.
According to him, fabricated steel components are frequently transported overseas for specialised coating before being returned for installation, increasing procurement costs, extending project timelines and exposing equipment to transportation risks.
He explained that coating failures have contributed to corrosion, pipeline leaks and hydrocarbon losses, with significant financial implications for operators and government while increasing environmental risks.
To address these challenges, Ubleble said Solewant’s research and development team collaborated with Nigerian academic institutions and Euro-American original equipment manufacturers to formulate advanced modified coating products designed to meet international performance standards.
The products, he said, are manufactured at the company’s fully automated facility in Rivers State and are engineered to protect steel, concrete, wood and other industrial assets operating in demanding environments.
A boost for local content
The project also aligns with Nigeria’s local content policy, which encourages indigenous participation across the oil and gas value chain.
Over the past decade, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has supported investments aimed at increasing domestic manufacturing capacity, reducing imports and retaining more value within the Nigerian economy.
Rather than relying solely on imported industrial materials, policymakers have increasingly encouraged local companies to manufacture products that meet global specifications.
Solewant says its new coatings plant forms part of that vision.
The company expects the facility to strengthen domestic production of protective coating solutions while supporting technology transfer, skills development and industrial capacity expansion.
The Group Executive Director and Managing Director of Solewant Specialty Protective Coatings and Paints Limited, Matthew Aganren, described the project as another milestone in the company’s ambition to become one of Africa’s leading indigenous industrial solutions providers.
According to him, the investment demonstrates confidence in Nigerian manufacturing and reinforces the belief that locally produced industrial products can compete favourably in regional and international markets.
Looking beyond Nigeria
Solewant’s ambitions extend beyond serving domestic demand.
Earlier this year, the company showcased its technologies at the 2026 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, where global energy companies presented emerging innovations shaping the future of offshore development.
Participation in such international events reflects a growing desire among indigenous Nigerian firms to position themselves not only as service providers but also as manufacturers capable of supplying products to regional and international markets.
Whether those ambitions materialise will depend on product quality, competitiveness and sustained demand from operators within and outside Nigeria.
The bigger picture
Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda has often been measured by the number of factories commissioned. Increasingly, however, attention is shifting towards what those factories actually produce and whether they can replace imports, create skilled jobs and strengthen local supply chains.
For the oil and gas industry, where billions of naira are spent annually on specialised industrial materials, expanding domestic manufacturing could help reduce foreign exchange pressure, shorten procurement timelines and improve project delivery.
As Solewant opens its latest manufacturing plant, the broader significance lies not simply in another ribbon-cutting ceremony but in what it represents, a gradual shift towards producing more of the technologies and industrial materials that Nigeria’s energy sector has historically sourced from abroad.
Whether more indigenous manufacturers follow the same path could determine how far the country’s local content ambitions translate into lasting industrial growth.