-
Stakeholders call for state-funded commercial diver training in Akwa Ibom
-
Experts say high training cost (₦15m–₦20m per diver) limits youth participation
-
Over 1,000 youths reportedly trained in marine and offshore skills by private firm
-
Calls for stronger enforcement of local content laws in oil and gas sector. Proposed marine base in Ibeno to boost offshore logistics and jobs
-
EMR urges collaboration to establish dedicated marine skills development programme
August 5, (THEWILL) — Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime and energy sector have called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to fund the training of commercial divers and strengthen indigenous marine capacity, warning that the state is losing high-value offshore jobs due to skills and funding gaps.
The call was made during a facility visit and inspection tour of Azi Marine and General Services Limited in Ibeno Local Government Area by members of the Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR), Akwa Ibom State Branch.
The visit highlighted concerns over the low participation of Akwa Ibom indigenes in deep offshore operations despite the state’s strategic position in Nigeria’s oil and gas corridor.
The Managing Director of Azi Marine and General Services Limited, Engr. Michael Abakam, said the state’s offshore resources have not translated into commensurate economic benefits due to inadequate investment in specialised manpower and limited support for local operators.
He said the company has built capacity in marine engineering, fabrication, and commercial diving, and maintains partnerships with international firms for technology transfer and operational standards.
Abakam disclosed that over 1,000 youths have been trained in commercial diving, welding, and other offshore technical skills through the company’s programmes.
He described commercial diving as one of the most lucrative but least accessible professions in the offshore industry, noting that training a single diver costs between ₦15 million and ₦20 million, making it unaffordable without government or institutional support.
He urged the state to replicate its investment in aviation training within the marine sector to build a competitive offshore workforce.
According to him, a structured state-backed programme would reposition Akwa Ibom within the oil and gas value chain and reduce reliance on expatriate labour in underwater operations.
Abakam also called for stricter enforcement of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, insisting that companies operating in the state should engage qualified indigenous firms in line with local content requirements.
He said indigenous marine companies already possess the technical capacity and equipment for complex offshore work but are often excluded from major contracts.
He further revealed plans for a modern offshore and onshore marine base in Ibeno to serve as a logistics hub for the Gulf of Guinea maritime corridor, with potential to create more jobs for host communities.
The State Chairman of EMR, Mr Harrison Ndifreke, said the visit aimed to strengthen engagement between the media and operators in the energy and maritime sectors, particularly on capacity development and local content implementation.
He said indigenous participation in the blue economy remains limited by weak technical training pipelines, especially in high-skill areas such as commercial diving.
Ndifreke pledged continued media advocacy on manpower development gaps and policy implementation, while calling for reforms that deliver measurable employment benefits to host communities.
He urged collaboration between the Akwa Ibom State Government, international oil companies, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and private operators to establish a dedicated Commercial Diving and Marine Skills Development Programme in the state.
He said such an initiative would expand access to global offshore skills, reduce youth unemployment, and position Akwa Ibom as a manpower hub for Nigeria’s marine and offshore industry.
