The push to revive investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector received another boost this week as Marconi.NG EPC Limited opened its Port Harcourt facility to officials of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and a team of journalists. The visit offered a rare look inside one of the country’s largest fabrication yards and its new owners, who say they are ready to compete on cost, delivery speed and technical depth as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to cut production costs and accelerate field development.

Marconi, a fully Nigerian company, acquired Saipem Contracting Nigeria’s Rumuolumeni Yard in May 2025. The new management is betting on the facility’s scale and legacy to position the firm as a leading West African engineering and fabrication powerhouse. 

During the tour, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gian Fabio Del Cioppo, explained that the yard spans more than 1 million square metres, includes a 330-metre jetty, and has the capacity to fabricate more than 25,000 tonnes of heavy structures annually. He described the facility as “one of the most capable in Nigeria, equipped to handle complex capital EPC projects across onshore, swamp, shallow water and deep offshore environments.”

Del Cioppo stressed that Marconi has the machinery, technical history and expertise required to deliver world-class fabrication at competitive prices and within strict schedules. He linked the company’s commitment to the Presidential Directives on Local Content and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, and urged government agencies and operators to remain firm on implementation. According to him, “a consistent local content framework is essential for job creation, economic growth and the preservation of hard-won industry gains.”

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The Nigerian Content Manager, Dr David Editang, guided journalists through the facility and highlighted the decision to retain the Nigerian professionals who had worked at the yard for decades before the acquisition. He noted that the yard can fabricate, store and load out completed project structures through its 3 jetties. The company recently carried out the First Steel Cutting Ceremony for subsea structures on a major offshore development, and the yard has a long record of supporting landmark projects such as Egina, Usan, Akpo and Train 7.

For the NCDMB team, the tour was not only an inspection but part of a broader plan to deepen engagement with media professionals who play a crucial role in shaping public understanding of the oil and gas sector. The General Manager of the Corporate Communications Division, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, explained that showcasing local capacity is central to the Board’s mandate under Sections 67 and 70(n) of the NOGICD Act, which emphasise communication, stakeholder engagement and capacity building. He added that the Board has built sustainable relationships with journalists across the country and hosts annual engagements in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja to strengthen industry knowledge and reporting.

He stated that “as Nigeria seeks new investment and a more competitive operating environment, companies with scale, technical strength and genuine local ownership will shape the next chapter of growth.”

Marconi’s renewed presence at Rumuolumeni signals that the country still has the capacity to build, fabricate and deliver at an industrial scale, as long as policy consistency and sector-wide collaboration remain intact.

Meiza Nigeria