Apex African Gas unveils plant, boosts production capacity
June 26, 2026 1:57 am
File photo depicting the Apex African Gas plant. Photo: Apex African Gas
Apex African Gas Nigeria Limited has commissioned a 70-tonnes-per-day Air Separation Unit plant in Lagos, increasing its combined production capacity to 110 tonnes per day and positioning itself among the largest domestic industrial gas producers in Nigeria.
The company said the investment would strengthen the supply of industrial and medical gases to the healthcare, construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and food processing sectors while reducing dependence on imported gases.
Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday, the Chairman of Apex African Gas, Najimu Adeniji, said the facility will produce oxygen, nitrogen and argon for critical industries across the country.
“This plant does not just produce oxygen. We also produce nitrogen and argon, which are used in industries. Oxygen, we can change the configuration to produce more oxygen if we want or more nitrogen,” Adeniji said.
He noted that nitrogen remained a key product for the oil services industry, particularly in Port Harcourt and its environs.
“Our main customers for nitrogen are in the oil service industries in Port Harcourt and the environment. They represent also a significant part of our revenue. These are gases that would have been imported if we are not producing locally. So it saves us the foreign exchange costs that we are able to produce here,” Adeniji added.
The chairman, however, identified power supply as a major challenge affecting production costs, explaining, “If we can get a power supply from the national grid, the cost will be significantly cheaper. So what we would like is for the government to provide for us, for the benefit of the general populace, cheaper power so that the cost of oxygen to the general public will be much cheaper than it is.”
The General Manager of Apex African Gas, Charles Allam, said the company remained committed to supporting hospitals with oxygen despite rising operating costs.
“While the major concern now is the power, we are working closely with the government, especially with the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, to see how we can save on power. But for now, we are trying our best,” Allam said.
“We are supporting all the medical hospitals and the federal hospitals with oxygen at the best rate and at the best cost. Some of them, as we mentioned in the ceremony, are free. We are trying. There are challenges, but with God’s help, we will overcome them,” he added.
According to Allam, the project involved an investment of more than N10bn and was designed to serve Nigerians across multiple sectors of the economy.
“What we have done so far belongs to all Nigerians. It belongs to Nigeria, and it is for the benefit of all Nigerians. So, altogether, we can make a big difference for this country,” Allam said.
Guest of Honour, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, described the project as a demonstration of investor confidence in Nigeria and a major contribution to industrial development and job creation.
“It is with great pleasure that I join you today at the formal launch of Apex African Gas Nigeria Ltd., a company whose emergence further strengthens Nigeria’s industrial, healthcare and energy value chain,” Abiru remarked.
“To me, this occasion is more than the unveiling of a company. It is the celebration of enterprise, innovation and confidence in the future of our nation. Apex African Gas represents the kind of indigenous capacity we must continue to encourage in Nigeria,” he added.
Abiru said the investment will support local production and reduce reliance on imports while improving access to critical industrial and medical gases.
“The importance of industrial and medical gases in healthcare, manufacturing, construction, oil and gas and other strategic sectors cannot be overstated. The contribution of this company, therefore, is to improve access to medical oxygen and support industrial productivity,” Abiru said.
He also commended the company’s parent group for its contribution to employment generation, noting that the investment could create additional jobs.
Partners of the firm, including the Technical Director of FHI 360, Dr Kenny Ewulum, commended the inauguration, stressing that Apex had played a vital role in improving access to liquid medical oxygen across Nigeria.
“To need liquid oxygen in the country is one thing, but to have access is a big challenge. That’s where Apex Gases came, I would say, to the rescue for the country to be able to access liquid medical oxygen across the country,” Ewulum stated.
“Currently, we are being supported by Apex Gases to provide liquid medical oxygen across the country. We hope that we are going to be expanding that access to contribute to universal access to medical oxygen,” he added.
Also speaking, the Director of Medical Services, Nigerian Navy, Surgeon Commodore Momoh Salihu, said the company had supported the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo, with free oxygen supplies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today’s event represents far more than the inauguration of a new industrial facility. It is a testament to vision, innovation and confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to build, produce and compete. This investment is no doubt a significant contribution to national development,” Salihu said.
“Recently, Apex Gas has been a valued partner in healthcare delivery since the COVID-19 pandemic, when the company generously supplied oxygen gas free of charge to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo. More importantly, this support continued beyond the pandemic, reflecting a genuine commitment to healthcare delivery and community well-being,” he added.
Representing the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, Technical Adviser to the initiative, Eniitan Tejuoso, described the new facility as a milestone for Nigeria’s healthcare and industrial sectors.
“Medical oxygen sits squarely at the intersection of these priorities. It is more than an industrial product. It is an essential medicine. Every investment that strengthens our ability to produce medical-grade oxygen locally strengthens the resilience of our health system and our capacity to save lives,” Tejuoso said.
“With this new 70-tonne per day air separation unit, Apex African Gas Nigeria has established itself as the country’s leading producer of liquid oxygen. This is not only a milestone for Nigeria, but a significant achievement for the wider West African region,” she added.
Senior Director, Child Health and Infectious Diseases, Dr Chizoba Fashanu, who represented the Country Director of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Dr Olufunke Fasawe, also commended the company for its role in strengthening Nigeria’s oxygen supply chain and supporting healthcare facilities, particularly in underserved communities.
Apex African Gas was founded in 2004. The company produces oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, helium and specialised gas mixtures in both liquid and gaseous forms. The company serves healthcare institutions, manufacturers, oil and gas operators, food processors, construction firms and other industrial users across Nigeria.
The company said the new facility will expand storage capacity, improve supply reliability and support long-term growth in sectors where uninterrupted access to industrial and medical gases remains critical.
Arinze Nwafor is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s economy, industry, data, metro, and judiciary. He focuses on highlighting growth, policy, and market challenges shaping Africa’s largest economy. Arinze’s reporting reflects practical newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, informative, and audience-focused journalism.
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