Fmr. Shell Manager urges Nigerians to use local technology for rapid industrialization

A former Corporate Engineering Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Abdullah Bukar, has urged Nigerians to consume local technologies and innovations for rapid economic growth and industrialization.

Bukar made the call at a book launch organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) on Wednesday in Lagos.

The book, tilted, “Corrosion Monitoring and Control Engineering in Oil and Gas Production”, was written by Dr Lekan Olaosebikan, a lecturer and former staff of SPDC.

Bukar, who was chairman of the occasion, stressed the need to protect pipelines from corrosion to avert pipeline leakages using local technology.

He said that corrosion was like cancer which could gradually wreck major havoc on pipelines and other industrial facilities if not noticed and checked.
“Corrosion deteriorates metals and plants and cause damage that can affect the business.

“This book provides solution right from the time you design your project to the time of operation of project to reduce the impact of corrosion.

“The book is also a landmark because it is a local product developed by a Nigerian and we need to patronize the locals. This creates opportunity to domesticate some of the process being imported by oil and gas companies and other industries and companies,’’ he said.
Bukar, represented by Engineering Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Development Company, Debo Oladunjoye, commended the author for proffering solution for both land and off shore operation in the oil and gas industry.
He said that machines, turbines, pipes and other accessories used in the manufacturing and the oil and gas industry had components of metal, adding that the book was timely to solve major problems of industrialists and manufacturers.
The chairman urged all tiers of government, professional engineering bodies, the academia and all Nigerians to buy into local products and ideas to achieve positive national transformation.

The book reviewer,  Abiola Kehinde, said that the book “is like course notes’’ of the author’s 25 years as a staff of SPDC.
Kehinde, a professor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos, said that the book, which has 11 chapters, captured both practical and theoretical aspects of the subject.

He said the book seeks to protect assets as well as plan management of equipment and pipes which were built to last decades in the oil and gas industry.
The author of the book, Dr Olaosebikan, told journalists that the book captured his 25 years practical experience of tackling corrosion while working with SPDC.
Chairman of Ikeja branch of NSE, Mr Akin Akintola, said that the book was timely and educative.
“The author is a teacher of teachers, he is not just a lecturer, he is a practical person and we thank God that he has documented this,’’ he said.

The author is a fellow of the NSE and former lecturer at University of Ibadan who had his university education in UK, Canada, and United State.