The Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW) has called on the Federal Government and operators of major oil and gas projects to give qualified Nigerian welders greater opportunities to work on national projects, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.
The institute made the appeal during its 2026 Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, where its chairman, Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Maa’ji, said Nigerian welders with local and international certifications were being overlooked in favour of foreign workers.
Maa’ji questioned the continued recruitment of expatriate welders when Nigeria has professionals trained to meet international standards. He urged the government to ensure that local welders are properly considered for the AKK pipeline, NNPC projects and other fabrication activities across the country.
He also raised concerns about differences in pay between foreign and Nigerian welders working on similar projects. According to him, some expatriate welders receive up to N3 million, while their Nigerian counterparts may earn between N200,000 and N300,000.
The NIW chairman described the disparity as unfair, particularly given the availability of certified Nigerian professionals who have acquired their skills through recognised training programmes.
He called for stronger enforcement of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, saying greater participation by local professionals would create employment, reduce project costs and keep more economic value within Nigeria.
Maa’ji said the institute has expanded welding training across the country, with support from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), while some of its graduates have secured employment abroad.
He further disclosed that hundreds of Nigerian welders had recently obtained opportunities in the Middle East through the activities of The Welding Federation – Africa.
Beyond employment opportunities, the institute said it is seeking stronger collaboration with government agencies, private companies and international organisations to improve vocational training, professional certification and technology transfer.
Maa’ji also appealed to members of the institute to support reconciliation and respect its democratic processes, stressing that the priority should be the growth and strengthening of the Nigerian Institute of Welding.
