Innovation in the Indigenous Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria

This study examined the intensity of technological innovations in the indigenous Nigeria's oil and gas servicing sub-sector and evaluated the factors that influenced the capability of the firms in the sub-sector to innovate. This was done with a view to making appropriate strategic recommendations to enhance firm-level innovativeness so as to increase indigenous participation in the sub-sector. The study, which used primary and secondary data sources, was based on a sample of the indigenous oil and gas servicing firms in Nigeria. 100 firms were purposefully selected and sampled, focusing on the period between 2001 and 2010. Four types of questionnaire were administered in each firm. This was supplemented with shop-floor observations and interviews. The questionnaires elicited information on the firms' innovation activities and the factors that influenced these. A total of 100 questionnaires were administered on heads of Production, Engineering, Finance and Administration in the firms out of which 70% were returned and found suitable for analysis. The data so obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.