New Coating Manufacturing Plant Boosts Local Content Development

Charles Ajunwa writes that the leadership qualities of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has continued to earn him recognitions from public and private institutions within and outside Nigeria

As the Nigerian and Namibian governments back Solewant Group’s new  coatings and paints manufacturing plant, oil and gas industry stakeholders project that the new facility is well positioned to deepen local content, protect critical assets and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial manufacturing base, Blessing Ibunge reports

Senior government officials, oil and gas industry leaders, diplomats, academia and other stakeholders across the energy value chain yesterday demonstrated the growing confidence in indigenous companies as the driving force behind Nigeria’s industrial transformation and Africa’s expanding energy sector, as they gathered in Rivers State at the commissioning of Solewant Specialty Protective Coatings and Paints Limited (SSPC & Paints) manufacturing plant.

At the event, the federal government, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, commended Solewant Group for advancing indigenous manufacturing capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.

The federal government also described the company’s newly commissioned SSPC & Paints manufacturing plant as a practical demonstration of local content, technology adoption and African industrial competitiveness.

The facility, commissioned at the Solewant Group Industrial Park, Alode-Eleme, in Rivers State, now manufactures decorative paints, standard protective coatings and premium specialty coating systems for steel, concrete, wood, pipelines, marine assets, refineries, petrochemical facilities and other industrial applications.

Commissioning the plant, Lokpobiri said the project reflects the growth of indigenous oil and gas service companies since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) Act and demonstrates the ability of Nigerian firms to solve critical industry problems.

“This is clear evidence of the growth that local service providers in Nigeria have developed over the past 15 years,” Lokpobiri said.

“I am very happy today that I had the privilege to witness this plant that will not just service Nigeria, but will service the entire African continent,” he added.

The minister said Solewant Group’s  expansion into Namibia further signals the beginning of a broader African footprint for Nigerian energy companies, adding that the company’s presence in the country is “just the beginning” of what Nigerian firms can contribute towards addressing energy poverty across Africa.

Reaffirming government support for indigenous capacity, Senator Lokpobiri said the federal government remained committed to companies that are building practical solutions for the energy sector.

According to him, Nigeria’s energy future rests substantially on Nigerian companies, engineers, technicians and investors who understand the operating environment and are prepared to develop home-grown solutions.

The minister insisted that foreign companies alone cannot solve the continent’s development challenges. “We are fully committed to supporting companies like Solewant Group. That is the only way we can grow this industry,” he declared.

He noted that the new facility is coming at a time when pipeline integrity, corrosion protection and asset reliability have become central to Nigeria’s effort to increase crude oil production.

He said many ageing pipelines require urgent attention, adding that locally produced coating solutions will help reduce evacuation constraints, improve asset protection and support the country’s production ambitions.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Solewant Group, Mr. Solomon Ewanehi, said the commissioning represents the fulfilment of a long-term industrial vision to build world-class manufacturing capacity in Nigeria and reduce dependence on imported industrial coatings.

“Today, we are not just launching the Solewant Coating Manufacturing Plant. We are launching confidence — confidence that Nigeria has the competence, the capacity and the courage to manufacture not just what we consume, but also what we can export to compete with international standards,” Ewanehi said.

He explained that the Solewant Industrial Park, occupying about 156,000 square metres, now houses multi-layer pipe coating facilities, steel pipe manufacturing and fabrication plants, bend coating plant, skills training and certification institute, state-of-the-art-laboratories, and the newly commissioned SSPC & Paints manufacturing plant. He said the investment was driven by a simple but urgent question: why should Nigeria, a leading oil and gas nation, continue to import the very coatings required to protect its critical assets?

At the ceremony, Solewant unveiled 11 enhanced products under the Solguard and Novaguard brands for decorative, industrial, marine, pipeline, infrastructure and harsh-service applications. The products are designed, tested and manufactured in Nigeria to support corrosion protection, surface durability, asset integrity and high-performance industrial coating needs.

The product series in the product family of Base Series include: Solguard Silk Paint; Solguard Matt Paint, and Solguard Emulsion Paint.

Similarly, the product series in the product family of Standard Series – Single Component Protective Coating, include: Solguard Alkyd Gloss Enamel and Solguard Red Oxide Metal Primer.

In the product family of Standard Series – Primer, the product series is Solguard Zinc-Rich Epoxy Primer; while Solguard High Build Epoxy Coat is also the product series in the product family of Standard Series – Intermediate Protective Coating.

The product family of Standard Series – Top Coat Protective Coating, has Solguard Acrylic Polyurethane as the product series.

In the product family of Premium Series, there are three product series – Novaguard 100% Solid Epoxy, Novaguard 100% Solid Polyurethane, and Novaguard 100% Solid Polyurea.

 In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented by his Senior Technical Assistant, Professor Bolaji Babatunde described the investment as a powerful statement of confidence in Nigeria.

He commended Solewant Group for expanding manufacturing capability, developing technology and creating value within the country at a time when Nigeria is seeking deeper industrialisation and stronger private-sector participation.

According to him, every litre of protective coating produced locally helps conserve foreign exchange, strengthens domestic supply chains and supports Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.

Representing the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Chief of Staff,  Sunny Ewule, said the investment reinforces Rivers State’s position as a destination for serious industrial investment.

He said the state government is willing to partner with companies such as Solewant Group in manufacturing, local content development and industrial growth.

Also speaking, the Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Walde Natangwe Ndevashiya, said Solewant is strategically positioned to participate in Namibia’s emerging petroleum industry following major offshore discoveries. He commended the Group for establishing a branch office in Namibia, describing the move as a show of confidence in Namibia and its emerging opportunities.

Former Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Emeka Ene, said the project demonstrates that Nigerian entrepreneurs, engineers and technicians can deliver world-class products and compete globally. He said Solewant’s investment is proof that local companies can meet the technical expectations of the energy industry when supported by vision, investment and quality systems.

Representing the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Director, Capacity Building, Mr. Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, said the project aligns with the Board’s mandate to deepen local content, create jobs, promote skills transfer and retain value within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The commissioning of the SSPC & Paints manufacturing plant marks another major step in Solewant Group’s drive to expand Nigeria’s industrial manufacturing footprint and position the country as a competitive supplier of protective coatings and asset-protection solutions to the wider African market.

Solewant Specialty Protective Coatings and Paints Limited (SSPC & Paints), a subsidiary of Solewant Group, provides decorative paints, standard protective coatings and high-performance specialty protective coating solutions for industrial, marine, pipeline, infrastructure and oil and gas applications. Its Solguard and Novaguard product series are designed to support asset protection, corrosion control, coating reliability and local manufacturing advancement.

Founded in 2000, Solewant Group is an indigenous Nigerian industrial conglomerate with interests in pipe coating, protective coatings and paints, steel pipe manufacturing, industrial fabrication, engineering services and technical manpower development. Through sustained investment in technology, innovation and local capacity development, the Group continues to contribute to Nigeria’s industrial transformation and Africa’s energy-sector competitiveness.