The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has praised Tamrose Limited for expanding its marine logistics fleet and extending its operations to Angola after securing support from the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund.

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Speaking at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, the Minister said he was pleased that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s US$350 million intervention fund had helped propel the company’s rise. Tamrose accessed a US$10 million facility from the Fund through the Bank of Industry in 2019. With it, the company grew from four patrol vessels to 15 vessels by 2025 and completed full repayment of the loan in September this year.

Lokpobiri described the moment as a celebration of a productive partnership between the NCDMB and Tamrose. He said the Fund was created to strengthen local capacity for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and to position indigenous companies to compete globally. While commending Tamrose as an example of what is possible, he urged other beneficiaries of the Fund to meet their repayment obligations or face legal action. He added that the Federal Government is committed to growing the Fund so that more Nigerian firms can scale their capacity and services.

NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe said the event marked a celebration of Nigerian capability and the value created when indigenous talent and ownership are placed at the centre of the economy. He praised the leadership and workforce of Tamrose for their professionalism and said the NOGICD Act of 2010 remains the foundation for ensuring Nigerians remain at the heart of value creation in the energy sector.

Represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Mr Esueme Dan Kikile, the Executive Secretary reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting credible Nigerian enterprises and strengthening frameworks that promote transparency and global competitiveness. He outlined the Board’s strategic direction, which includes deeper participation in the gas value chain, renewed focus on renewables, expansion of the blue economy, and growth of a strong industrial base driven by Nigerian capital and innovation.

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Ogbe announced that a new product, the Nigerian Content Equity Fund, will be unveiled at the Practical Nigerian Content Forum in December. The Fund will provide long-term risk capital for Nigerian firms operating in high-value and high-impact sectors.

In his welcome address, Tamrose Executive Chairman Ambrose Ovbiebo said the company has grown from a small team into a trusted partner for major international and independent oil and gas companies. He noted that the 2019 credit facility became a catalyst for Tamrose’s expansion and helped increase its fleet to 15 vessels, comprising ten security patrol vessels and five platform supply vessels. According to him, the company has grown its workforce from 50 to 244 staff and trained more than 100 cadets under its training scheme. He said the company is proud to fly the Nigerian flag in Angola and to contribute to job creation, human capacity development, and improved healthcare access for more than 1,500 enrollees.

Ovbiebo thanked clients such as ExxonMobil, SEPLAT Energy, TotalEnergies, Chevron Nigeria Limited, First E&P, NLNG, and Oriental Energy Resources for their trust. He also acknowledged the support of financial partners including Union Bank, Keystone Bank, Fidelity Bank, Afreximbank, and the Bank of Industry.

In a goodwill message, Mr Taiye Emagha, Divisional Head for Extractive and Natural Resources at the Bank of Industry, praised Tamrose for its repayment discipline and described it as the kind of customer every bank wants to work with.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dayo Mobereola, represented by Mr Jibril Abba, also commended Tamrose for maintaining a fully Nigerian-flagged fleet and thanked the NCDMB for supporting the company’s growth.