Usman Mohammed, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of New Energy Services Company Ltd. (NESSCO), has urged Nigeria to accelerate its adaptation to the global energy transition to remain competitive in the evolving energy landscape.
Mohammed made the call in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference 2026 in Houston, USA, where he highlighted the growing global shift from oil to gas and cleaner energy sources.
He noted that advances in technology and rising investments in green energy are rapidly reshaping the global energy landscape.
“Technology is evolving, and the world has effectively launched a revolution in green energy. The focus is now shifting more towards gas development than oil, and that transition is already affecting business turnover across the industry,” he said.
Mohammed credited Nigeria’s local content policies for supporting the growth of indigenous companies in the energy sector.
“We are a direct product of local content development. Many Nigerian companies today owe their growth to deliberate government policies, and the impact is visible across the industry,” he added.
He commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for supporting local participation in the oil and gas sector, but stressed the need to improve access to funding for indigenous operators.
“The biggest challenge is funding. We need a dedicated energy bank, similar to the Bank of Agriculture, that will give indigenous companies access to affordable capital, especially in gas development,” the NESSCO boss said.
He also called for reforms to existing funding structures, urging the NCDMB to make its financing process more accessible to credible local firms.
“If a company is qualified to execute a contract, it should also be considered qualified to access financing,” he said.
Mohammed said NESSCO is continuing to expand its operations, having recently secured a renewed contract through a competitive tender process and signed a new drilling rig supply agreement with a major operator.
According to him, the company has diversified from offshore facility management and crane operations into drilling and other energy services over the last decade.
“We are growing deliberately, and by this time next year, we expect major developments in the gas sector,” he said.
Mohammed also emphasised the importance of collaboration among indigenous companies, describing partnerships as critical to sustainable growth in the industry.
Drawing from his experience with international firms such as Saipem, TotalEnergies, Baker Hughes and BW Offshore, he said successful global businesses thrive on cooperation.
“No single company can do it all. Collaboration is the way forward, but it must happen naturally,” he said.
He warned against forced business partnerships, noting that trust and shared vision are essential for successful collaborations.
“Business relationships are built on trust and alignment. You cannot force companies together and expect success,” he said.
Mohammed further urged Nigerians to take responsibility for developing the country’s energy sector.
“Nobody will come from Europe or America to build Nigeria for us. The responsibility is ours. What the government must do is create the right environment and allow indigenous companies to rise to the challenge,” he explained.
He noted that NESSCO, an engineering, procurement and facility management company, previously handled about 40 per cent of all platform operations for ExxonMobil in Nigeria.
“The company has provided services across heavy lifting equipment deployment, crane management, valve maintenance and testing, hydraulic hose services, fabrication and recertification,” the managing director added.
