Jenik Freight CEO Applauds Oil and Gas Policies Driving Indigenous Capacity at SAIPEC 2026

As Nigeria intensifies efforts to raise crude oil production to two million barrels per day, industry stakeholders are expressing optimism about stronger policy alignment to expand indigenous participation in the country’s petroleum recovery and growth agenda.

During discussions at the 2026 Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference SAIPEC in Lagos, the CEO of Jenik Freight, Onwughalu, commended reforms aimed at strengthening local content and boosting production.

He encouraged the government to sustain existing oil and gas policies that empower local operators, ease import bottlenecks, and unlock financing for capital intensive investments.

According to Onwughalu, reforms promoting indigenous capacity and production growth have stimulated renewed activity across the sector, with international oil companies and local operators scaling operations to meet national output targets.

“There is significant momentum in the industry right now. Companies are increasing production, sourcing more equipment, and reactivating dormant assets. For logistics providers like us, this translates into higher demand and stronger collaboration with indigenous operators,” he said.

Jenik Freight is a Calgary based international logistics company specializing in freight forwarding for the oil and gas industry.

The company provides import and export services through ocean and air freight to global destinations, supporting operators with the cross border movement of critical industrial equipment.

Founded in 2016, Jenik Freight emerged from a practical market need to assist oil and gas professionals in sourcing and shipping specialized equipment into Nigeria and other emerging energy markets.

With academic qualifications in mechanical engineering (BSc) and petroleum engineering ( MSc) and having spent nearly 15 years working in Oil and Gas with international experience supervising drilling and Workover operations and logistics, Onwughalu identified a gap in dependable freight forwarding for operators sourcing equipment from North America and other global hubs.

What began as support for colleagues evolved into a full service freight forwarding company handling oil and gas equipment, mining assets, construction machinery, agricultural cargo, aviation components, and automobile shipments.

Today, the company manages heavy and time sensitive cargo, using ocean freight for large industrial assets and air freight for urgent components required at project sites.

“Our model is straightforward,” Onwughalu explained. “Once clients identify their equipment needs, we take responsibility for moving it efficiently from origin to deployment. Reliability, speed, and strong customer relationships define our operations.”

The company supports several indigenous oil service firms, coordinating logistics for wireline operations, pumping services, and field equipment as operators expand activities in response to production targets.

Drawing from his background in drilling and well completions across Nigeria and international markets, Onwughalu described Nigeria’s local content framework as a pivotal phase for the petroleum industry, noting that indigenous companies are increasingly delivering services previously dominated by international operators.

“The capacity of local firms is growing rapidly. At SAIPEC, Nigerian companies are providing advanced services and technologies. The ecosystem has matured and logistics demand continues to rise as operators scale,” he noted.

He added that SAIPEC remains a strategic platform for strengthening partnerships and identifying new opportunities across the upstream and services value chain.

While acknowledging progress, Onwughalu noted that challenges remain, particularly around financing and import duties for equipment critical to oil and gas operations.

He encouraged continued government support for indigenous companies investing in vessels, rigs, and heavy machinery, assets that require substantial capital commitments.

“Lower import duties and targeted policy incentives can improve project economics and accelerate production timelines. Achieving the two million barrels per day milestone will require deliberate support for indigenous operators.”

Onwughalu stated that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is entering a renewed growth phase driven by production ambitions, stronger local participation, and rising operational demand.

As logistics requirements expand alongside production targets, companies like Jenik Freight are positioning themselves as strategic enablers within Nigeria’s petroleum value chain, bridging global equipment markets with domestic operational needs and reinforcing the role of indigenous enterprises in national economic development.