NCDMB backs MT valves’ plan for Nigeria’s first industrial valve plant

A delegation from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, visited MT Valves West Africa Free Zone at the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, to assess the company’s operations and investment plans for a proposed 15,000 tons-per-year industrial valves manufacturing facility.

The inspection team was led by Engr. Harmony Kunu, Special Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, alongside Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, Manager, Media and Publicity, and Ms. Chika Enwerem, Manager, Commercial Ventures.

MT Valves West Africa, a subsidiary of the global MT Group, showcased its ambition to establish Nigeria’s first industrial valve manufacturing hub.

The parent company, MT Group, already operates major manufacturing plants in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—producing 60,000 tons of valves annually—and a cutting-edge research and manufacturing center at its global headquarters in Shanghai, China.

During the facility tour, MT Valves’ Managing Director, Mr. Thomas Zhang, and Sales Director, Mr. Elliot Aigbokhade, explained that their company specializes in the design, production, and supply of a wide range of industrial valves for the oil and gas, petrochemical, and allied sectors.

They noted that despite being relatively new in Nigeria, MT Valves West Africa has already secured vendor status with Shell Nigeria, demonstrating its rapid integration into the local energy ecosystem.

Highlighting their commitment to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, the company representatives revealed that work is well underway to establish a fully-fledged manufacturing workshop in Lekki.

The facility aims to enhance local value addition, foster skills development, and align with Nigeria’s national content development goals.

They pointed out that currently, no company manufactures industrial valves locally in Nigeria—a critical gap MT Valves West Africa seeks to close.

The proposed Lekki facility will mirror their advanced Abu Dhabi plant, with an initial production target of 15,000 valves per year.

Their strategic focus includes phased expansion, development of a resilient Nigerian supply chain, and the ability to cater to both domestic and regional markets.

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The company also plans to offer maintenance, repair, assembly, and manufacturing services, while sourcing raw materials locally where possible.

Employment creation, skills transfer through overseas and local training programs, and partnerships with Nigerian entities are key components of the investment plan.

MT Valves West Africa appealed for NCDMB’s support and regulatory backing to facilitate the project’s success and requested introductions to key industry players to drive early patronage.

They disclosed that some critical manufacturing equipment has already been installed, with additional machinery currently en route to Nigeria.

In response, the NCDMB officials affirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting credible investments that align with the Nigerian Content Act’s vision of domiciliation and domestication of critical industry capacities.

They emphasized that initiatives such as MT Valves’ project are crucial to realizing President Bola Tinubu’s industrialization agenda, creating jobs for Nigerians, and boosting local manufacturing capabilities.

The NCDMB delegation encouraged MT Valves to develop a detailed investment roadmap with clear milestones, Nigerian content targets, local sourcing strategies, and projected economic contributions.

They also invited the company to participate in the upcoming Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) scheduled for May 20–22, 2025, as a platform to engage industry players and explore emerging market opportunities.

As part of the next steps, MT Valves West Africa extended an invitation to officials from key government and industry organizations, including Nigeria LNG Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to tour their Abu Dhabi and Shanghai facilities and witness firsthand the scale and sophistication of their global operations.