Minister hails Tamrose, promises to grow Nigerian content fund

By Olakunle Oke 

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has commended Tamrose Limited for expanding its marine logistics fleet and extending its operations beyond Nigeria, following its successful utilization of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF).

Speaking at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, the Minister said he was delighted that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), through its US$350 million intervention fund, played a significant role in Tamrose’s growth. The company secured a US$10 million loan through the Bank of Industry in 2019, expanded its fleet from four patrol vessels to 15 by 2025, and completed the loan repayment in September 2025.

Lokpobiri described the event as a celebration of productive partnership between the NCDMB and Tamrose, noting that the firm’s expansion into Angola and other African markets demonstrates the success of Nigeria’s local content policy. He emphasized that the NCIF was designed to strengthen indigenous capacity for both domestic and global oil and gas operations. He also urged other fund beneficiaries to settle their obligations or face legal action.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to growing the Fund to enable more indigenous companies acquire capacity and deliver critical services across the oil and gas value chain.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the event underscored what Nigeria can achieve when it invests in indigenous talent and local ownership. He praised the professionalism and dedication of Tamrose’s leadership and workforce, saying their progress reflects the strength of Nigeria’s marine logistics subsector.

Ogbe highlighted that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 was enacted to ensure Nigerians remain central to value creation in the energy sector. He noted that the Board has sustained this mandate through clear processes, robust frameworks, and impactful partnerships.

On the NCI Fund, he explained that it provides structured capital to qualified Nigerian firms that demonstrate capacity and contribute to the Fund, describing Tamrose as a clear example of the initiative’s success. Represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile, he reiterated the Board’s commitment to supporting credible Nigerian enterprises, strengthening transparency, and deepening programmes that enhance global competitiveness.

According to him, the Board’s strategic focus includes increasing local participation in the gas value chain, strengthening its role in renewables, expanding the blue economy, and building an industrial base powered by Nigerian talent, capital, and innovation.