PETAN Calls for Enhanced Skills in Nigeria's Oil Sector

The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has urged indigenous oil and gas companies to strengthen their technical capacity to address existing skills gaps and enhance local participation in Nigeria's oil and gas industry. During a media roundtable in Lagos, PETAN Publicity Secretary emphasized the importance of building local technical capacity for sustainable industry growth.

PETAN Chairman Wole Ogunsanya highlighted the need for local engineering talent development and structured training opportunities for young engineers to reduce reliance on foreign expertise. PETAN has initiated a two-year internship program that has recruited nearly 100 engineers, with over 60 percent of participants gaining employment afterward.

The association is also collaborating with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to promote local expertise. Plans are underway to establish a training center in Port Harcourt, equipped with drilling rigs for practical training.

PETAN underscored the significance of Nigeria's drill-or-drop policy in boosting exploration and domestic oil production, targeting three million barrels per day by 2030.