SEEPCO Opens Pathway to Prestigious Underwater Welding Careers for Akwa Ibom Youths
…State Government commends initiative for promoting youth empowerment, local content and peaceful coexistence
The latest vessel, SSV KALI 3, built in Delta State, represents another milestone in the partnership, demonstrating the potential of indigenous shipbuilding to support national security while developing local technical expertise and expanding economic opportunities beyond the oil and gas industry.
The KALI Series comprises 10 vessels designed to support maritime security operations and strengthen the Nigerian Navy’s capacity to protect the country’s territorial waters, offshore facilities and critical national infrastructure.
The initiative comes amid persistent maritime security challenges, including crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, piracy and other criminal activities that threaten Nigeria’s oil and gas operations, government revenue and economic stability.
Public-Private Partnership
Through the partnership, SEEPCO is supporting efforts to improve maritime surveillance, patrol and rapid-response capabilities, helping to safeguard strategic energy infrastructure and shipping routes.
Promoting Indigenous Shipbuilding
Beyond maritime security, the KALI Series highlights the importance of local content development in Nigeria’s maritime and energy sectors.
The construction of KALI 3 in Delta State has created opportunities for Nigerian engineers, technicians, artisans, contractors and other professionals to contribute their expertise to a specialised maritime project.
The initiative also supports local supply chains by generating demand for fabrication, engineering, logistics, marine services and other supporting businesses.
As more vessels are constructed locally, the project has the potential to expand technical skills, strengthen indigenous industrial capacity and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The development reflects the broader objective of ensuring that more of the value generated by investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry remains within the country.
Extending Support to Security Agencies
SEEPCO’s collaboration with national security institutions also extends beyond its engagement with the Nigerian Navy.
The company’s donation of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses to the Nigeria Police Force is another example of its support for security agencies.
The initiative is intended to improve operational mobility for police personnel while contributing to Nigeria’s efforts to promote alternative fuels and more sustainable transportation solutions.
Together, the maritime security partnership and the provision of vehicles demonstrate how private-sector resources and technical capabilities can complement the activities of public institutions.
Creating Value for Host Communities
The economic benefits associated with the KALI Series extend to host communities and businesses involved in the project’s development.
Local employment, skills acquisition and the use of indigenous suppliers and service providers can help expand participation in the maritime value chain and stimulate economic activity in communities where the vessels are built.
The initiative also illustrates how investments in the oil and gas sector can generate benefits beyond crude oil production by supporting manufacturing, engineering, transportation and other related industries.
For young Nigerians, exposure to specialised maritime construction and technical operations can provide pathways into careers that contribute to the development of the country’s industrial and maritime capabilities.
Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships
The KALI Series underscores the potential of public-private partnerships to address national development priorities by combining government institutions’ operational responsibilities with private-sector investment, innovation and technical expertise.
For Nigeria, strengthening maritime security remains important to protecting offshore assets, sustaining oil and gas operations and supporting economic activities across the Gulf of Guinea and the wider Niger Delta region.
By investing in locally built security vessels and supporting other national institutions, SEEPCO is contributing to efforts to develop indigenous capabilities and strengthen the relationship between industry and government.
KALI 3 therefore represents more than an addition to the Nigerian Navy’s security support fleet. It highlights the opportunities available when local talent, private investment and public institutions work towards shared objectives.
As Nigeria seeks to deepen local content, improve maritime security and diversify its economy, initiatives such as the KALI Series demonstrate how domestic industrial capacity can contribute to national development while creating opportunities for businesses, workers and host communities.
