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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) team has emerged overall champion of the 20th edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games (NOGIG), concluded last weekend at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, with an impressive haul of 20 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze medals to top the table.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) trailed as first runners-up with 14 gold, 15 silver and 20 bronze medals, while the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) finished second runners-up with five gold, eight silver and five bronze medals.
The victory reinforced NLNG’s dominance at the landmark sporting event, which has become a symbol of unity across the petroleum value chain.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, underscored the deeper significance of the Games beyond medals and trophies.
“Four decades of cohesion with this 20th edition is a remarkable milestone,” he noted.
His counterpart, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, also described the Games as a reflection of four decades of unity, friendship and collaboration within one of Nigeria’s most strategic industries.
The ministers commended the organisers, sponsors and participants for sustaining a “noble initiative” that has grown beyond a mere sporting competition into a powerful platform for cohesion, wellness and shared purpose across the oil and gas ecosystem.
“In an industry as vast and technically demanding as ours, platforms like NOGIG remind us that beyond policies, projects and procurement targets, it is people who drive the process,” Ekpo said.
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Speaking further, he said the healthy competition, teamwork, discipline and excellence displayed throughout the week-long tournament mirror the very foundations upon which Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is built.
He linked the spirit of sportsmanship during the Games to the ongoing transformation within the petroleum sector, driven by reforms, innovation and collective commitment to transparency, efficiency and value creation.
“A productive workforce must also be a healthy one. Initiatives such as NOGIG have helped to promote physical well-being, mental resilience and work-life balance,” he said.
“These are critical ingredients for operational excellence and safety in a demanding energy environment. As we celebrate athletic excellence today, we must recognise that the same teamwork and resilience displayed on the field are essential to achieving our national energy objectives.
“This 20th edition reflects consistency, institutional support and a shared belief that collaboration remains one of the industry’s greatest strengths,” he added.
Reacting after the victory, the General Manager, Production, NLNG, Nnamdi Anowi, described the triumph as a testament not just to athletic preparation but to teamwork and resilience, stressing: “Even if we won by one gold, we are the champions.”
Looking beyond the medals, Anowi highlighted the value of networking and collaboration fostered by the Games, noting: “We are busy making connections, talking with people, building those networks we need in the industry.
“NOGIG has boosted collaboration, and the industry will come out better and stronger,” he added.
