MG Vowgas Limited, an indigenous firm, has continued to receive accolades for clinching an award at the just concluded Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS).
The firm won the award in the ‘Local Content Company of the Year’ category for building a specialised air boat that has the capability to move on land and on water. The boat, which is called ballistic boat, has features that can be fitted with arms and ammunition that can fire in any military operation on land or sea.
Godwin Izomor, group managing director of MG Vowgas Limited, who disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt recently, said the firm has what it takes to deliver on its mandate, particularly in the production of specialised equipment for the military.
He expressed delight over the confidence the military repose in his firm just as he called for encouragement and support, to enable Nigeria to save the foreign exchange lost in procuring equipment from foreign countries.
Izomor said Nigerian personnel in the company are already understudying some of the expatriates in order to position to effectively take over their roles and responsibilities in the firm.
He further disclosed that the firm is working closely with the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) of the Ministry of Defence to build ballistic missiles, submarines, satellite rockets and other specialised equipment for the military.
According to him, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of Defence Staff has visited the facility and was impressed by what he met on ground. “Remember, this is a wholly indigenous firm and in line with the provisions of the Local Content Act, we source most of our materials locally.”
To address the challenge of over dependence on foreign countries, he stated that his firm has entered into partnership with several manufacturers to develop human capacity in most of its areas of operations.
“We are doing all these to show our people that we do not need to go overseas to procure this equipment. We have the capacity to build them here locally. That is why we are calling on everyone to come on board so that we can take our country to the desired height in every sphere of human endeavours, particularly in the oil, gas and maritime industries,” he added.
Lawrence Nwachukwu, an industry player, said indigenous companies like MG Vowgas Limited should be encouraged by the government to enable them position to provide employment for Nigerians.
According to him, creating employment would help to address the issue of insecurity in the country because someone who is gainfully employed would not be able to participate in insurgency, banditry, terrorism or any other form of criminal activities ravaging the country.
He further stated that government needs to build indigenous capacity in all sectors of the economy especially in the oil and gas industry, as well as maritime sector.
