Business

56 UK, Nigerian Firms Explore Investment Opporunities

Published

10 years ago

August 3, 2015

L-R: Head of Nigerian Content Development, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria (SNEPCo), Austin Uzoka, Director, United Kingdom Trade & Industry, Chris Maskell, British Deputy High Commissioner, Ray Kyles, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Nigeria, Chiedu Oba, UKTI Specialist, Sue Whitebread, Director ,Monitoring and Evaluation (NCDMB),Tunde Adelana, at the just concluded Nigeria – UK Suppliers Engagement Programme sponsored by SNEPCo and its Co-venturers.

A total of 100 delegates representing 56 companies from Nigeria and the United Kingdom have said they were collaborating to explore business opportunities for investments that would help boost economic development of both countries.
They said this at the annual Nigeria-UK Supplier Engagement programme organised by Shell Nigeria Exploration Company Ltd (SNEPCo) in conjunction with the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI).
The event, which held in Lagos on July 30, brought together companies engaged in a wide variety of activities in the oil and gas industry, including engineering, maintenance, fabrication and subsea support services.
Speaking at the summit, Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC.), Osagie Okunbor, observed that: “The striking feature of this year’s business summit is the presence of Nigerians in the Diaspora in the UK delegation. It shows that our engagements with Nigerians to take up opportunities back home in the oil and gas industry is being well received, and this is good news for everybody.”
Earlier in a welcome address, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Nigeria, Chiedu Oba, said “Shell has a long-term and continuing commitment to Nigeria, its people and the economy.
“One of the most significant ways we have delivered on that commitment is by increasing the participation of Nigerian companies and individuals in our supply chain and operations – to ensure that as many Nigerians as possible benefit from our activities and business,” he added.
The General Manager, Production PSC, in the National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS), enjoined the participating companies to work towards taking advantage of upcoming opportunities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
He reiterated the importance of local content in the growth of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
UKTI Director, Chris Maskell, thanked Shell for the continued support on the Nigeria-UK Supplier Engagement programme.
The UK delegation, which included Nigerian experts in the Diaspora, who SNEPCo had reached in previous business summits in Aberdeen and London, first met with Shell Companies in Nigeria on areas of need and technical gaps.
The UK delegation also held networking meetings with their Nigerian counterparts, which included several members of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).
Also speaking at a reception organised by UKTI for the suppliers, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Denzil Kentebe, lauded the Shell initiative for fostering partnerships that will help local vendors strengthen their technical capability.
SNEPCo had initiated the Nigeria-UK Supplier Engagement programme in 2009, which had led to some 27 partnerships between Nigerian and UK companies, with another 43 partnership discussions progressing well.
Shell Companies in Nigeria are major contributors to the national economy, not only through the energy they produce and the revenues generated, but also via achievements in supply chain management, and boosting local content and social investment in the country.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu