How do you interact with Chevron Nigeria Ltd in your business and how has this impacted your company’s activities?
Initially, when we started, then the local contractors were very few. I can’t remember the year now. We were given a little scope and we did it with timely completion and safety. First of all, I want to say that safety is our number one priority and we don’t do things without safety. If it’s not safe, don’t do it. We have that orientation from Chevron and once it is safe, you go ahead and do it. And again, they want mutual understanding among the communities. So, they want to encourage the local communities to come up with what they can do and by so doing, you are taking youths out of the street to reduce crime.
Because when you are getting your daily bread, you don’t need to think or plan crime. I commend Chevron for that and I also ask them to do more. Our communication and relation with companies are very cordial. And the only thing is that their system of bringing companies together is very good; it is encouraging people, but sometimes to the detriment of the local contractors. For instance, in the market you are getting something for N100 then they will invite about 10 different contractors and the least bidder is the winner. Maybe as people begin to win, I will say let me come down and bring the price maybe to N60, we don’t do that. That’s one thing with JEMTECH. Another thing is that we don’t ask anybody for variation. The moment I append my signature to an agreement, it is binding on me. The thing I will have to do is to complete the operation to be sure I satisfy you, whether I’ll be making gain or not. That’s our standard. Like I said, I can’t and I don’t ask anybody for variation.
Would you tell us more about your company, the kind of services you provide in the oil and gas industry?
Actually, before we got to this stage, we came up as a little company/enterprise and we came up with coating, not that we are actually just coating, but the opportunity that came as at that time. As time progressed, we moved on from coating to the welding and fabrication unit. So, we are into welding and fabrication of oil and gas installations. We do installations; we do piling; civil and mechanical – we do intro-flushing, hydro-testing, stress relief, pile installation, even piling and installation and a wide range of installations.
Chevron prides itself as a pioneer in consistently supporting the growth and human capacity development of small and medium scale businesses, especially the community-based enterprises. How would you assess this position?
That is very correct and the truth must be told. Chevron, they are encouragers; they encourage their host communities’ contractors and others. Once you can perform, Chevron always supports you so that you will grow. Like I said, I started from a very small unit, but now I am growing bigger and bigger. Chevron always encourages. I remember McDon, a white man those days. He was a construction superintendent. He left Nigeria many years ago. The man usually encouraged me, asking me how I was spending monies from Chevron contracts. He encouraged me to invest in my firm. If you can perform, Chevron will be there for you and make sure you’re not a failure.
Is your company operating in any other country apart from Nigeria?
Right now, no.
What are your aspirations for JEMTECH?
We have to develop our local communities, encourage our people to develop through skill acquisition. We have in-house training for our people. This year, there are no jobs that are coming forth, but we still develop our communities to make sure that even if you cannot go to school, you have a skill so that you can be out of the street, that’s what I am doing.
What’s your evaluation of Chevron’s contributions to local community content and Nigerian content development?
Like I have said, if not for Chevron, we will not have the opportunity to prove our capability, our competency as per the oil and gas sector. The test given to us proved that local communities’ contractors can perform very well. Chevron, they are wonderful and if I have my way, I always tell people that violence is not good, crisis is not good; damaging properties and vandalism should be out of us. Sometimes, I come out to campaign that if you want to be a better person, do a better thing. Be violent-free, don’t stop the operations of the company because of what you want to benefit. We always discourage people from violence because when the companies have peace to operate, it will be better for us.
What is your view of the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act generally by all the IOCs?
The Nigeria Content Law is well implemented. But the Federal Government can still do more.
What advice do you have for other SMEs?
My advice is that they should be serious with what they are doing. You know some of them will want to take contracts that they cannot implement; they will even spend the money before carrying out the work, thereby ending by not completing it. I have never embarked on any project I cannot complete. I prefer to spend my personal money in a project to keep my good name and integrity. I don’t play with my integrity, so that satisfies our clients to recommend us for more contracts in future.
Can you give us a statistical data of how many youths you have taken out of the streets?
They are many, I cannot count. The people of this community (Ubeji), are very hostile not minding the fact that I’m from here, they are very hostile. Then, I sat them down one day and told them that their hostility would not help them. I told them how it would be very good to be peaceful in their community because with their violence and hostility, they can’t drive development.
When I went to your website, I noticed that there is no ownership structure and I also got the impression that you are a very private person. So, we want to know whether you are a family man, a chief, or a traditional ruler..?
I am not a chief. I’m a pastor. I’m also a family man. As long as I’m a pastor, I respect my palace. I don’t need any title. I am an ordained man of God in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); I cannot take another title and I will not, no matter what. All I need to do is to do the work of God, undermining the fact that I am a contractor. Once it’s time for me to carry out my duties in the church, I put my business aside.
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