By Esther Onyegbula

The Chief Executive Officer of Jenik Freight, Mr. Chukwujekwu Onwughalu, has applauded ongoing oil and gas reforms aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity, urging the Federal Government to sustain policies that will accelerate Nigeria’s drive to produce two million barrels of crude oil per day.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos, Onwughalu said renewed policy alignment around local content, production growth and operational efficiency was already stimulating activity across the petroleum value chain.

Nigeria has set a target of ramping up crude oil production to two million barrels per day as part of broader efforts to stabilise output, boost foreign exchange earnings and strengthen the economy.
Onwughalu commended reforms that empower indigenous operators, ease import bottlenecks and unlock financing for capital-intensive investments, noting that the momentum in the industry was evident.

“There is significant momentum in the industry right now,” he said. “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 explained that logistics demand has surged as international oil companies and local operators scale operations to meet national output targets.

Founded in 2016, Jenik Freight is a Calgary-based international logistics company specialising in freight forwarding for the oil and gas industry. The firm provides import and export services through ocean and air freight to global destinations, supporting operators with the cross-border movement of critical industrial equipment.

Onwughalu, who holds academic qualifications in mechanical and petroleum engineering and has nearly 15 years’ experience in drilling, workover operations and logistics across Nigeria and international markets, said the company was established to bridge a gap in dependable freight forwarding for operators sourcing equipment from North America and other global hubs.

What began as support for colleagues, he said, 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, deploying ocean freight for large industrial assets and air freight for urgent components required at project sites.

“Our model is straightforward,” Onwughalu said. “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.”

He disclosed that 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, Onwughalu described Nigeria’s local content framework as pivotal to the sector’s growth, noting that indigenous companies are increasingly delivering services previously dominated by international operators.

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

While acknowledging progress, he pointed to lingering challenges, particularly around financing and import duties on critical oil and gas equipment.

He urged the government to sustain targeted policy incentives, including lower import duties and improved access to funding, to support indigenous companies investing in vessels, rigs and heavy machinery.

“Lower import duties and targeted policy incentives can improve project economics and accelerate production timelines,” he said.

“Achieving the two million barrels per day milestone will require deliberate support for indigenous operators.”

Onwughalu concluded 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, he said firms 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.