SIIFZ represents Nigeria’s potentials, deserves support —NipeX GM

Operations of leading indigenous energy services provider, Nigerdock, and the available facility at the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ) have been described as a paradigm of Nigeria’s great prospects and impact on Africa.

General Manager of Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NipeX), Mr Kanayo Odoe, identified this during his recent courtesy visit to SIIFZ, the location of Nigerdock’s world class facility.

Mr Odoe noted that Nigerdock and its activities on SIIFZ represent the prospects of Nigeria across Africa.

According to him, “Snake Island is a manifestation of all that is good in this great country, Nigeria.  It is my earnest hope on behalf of the people of this great nation that all the support we can muster to make the organisation great will be given to your good organisation. Be reassured of our highest support and commitment in bolstering your organisation for the overall benefit of Nigeria. Keep up the good work.”

He was conducted on a tour of the facility by Group Corporate Affairs Director, Joy Okebalama; Nigerian Content Manager, Nigerdock, Ifeanyi Chime; Senior Project Manager, Nigerdock, Temitope Odulate, among others.

The tour covered various areas of Nigerdock’s diverse business operations such as Logistics Base Infrastructure (Quaysides, Marshalling Yard, Water and MGO Storage, Laydown areas, Warehouses, Accommodation, Related Equipment, etc.); Ship Repair and Maintenance Facilities (Dry Dock and Floating Dock, Cranes, Workshops, etc.), Offshore Fabrication Facilities (Covered Fabrication Workshops, Coating Shops, Warehouses, Laydown and Erection Areas, etc.), the  recently rebranded Nigerdock Training and Development Academy and a  significant array of equipment such as various specifications of Cranes, SPMTs, Fabrication Equipment, etc.

Mr Odoe said he was impressed with the in-country capacity and capability available at Nigerdock and noted that “The facility is great and offers world class standards. It is quite remarkable that apart from the fact that Nigerdock is impacting on Local Content through the training and development academy, it is also gratifying to know that a lady who heads the Machining Workshop has spent over 24years in the organisation.”

During a brief presentation to the NipeX GM, Mrs Okebalama explained that SIIFZ has a significant number of Free Zone Enterprises currently operating within the zone.

“These enterprises provide a wide range of activities including full EPCIC contract delivery, manufacturing, offshore logistics support services, pollution management and recycling, aviation services, engineering/design services, construction, fabrication, ship maintenance and repairs along with an array of maritime support services thereby making it a one stop shop for oil and gas related activities. These enterprises operating in SIIFZ have brought and will continue to bring significant added value to SIIFZ and the Nigerian Economy,” she said.

SIIFZ is strategically located at Snake Island Apapa, with immediate access to the open sea, and within proximity to Tin Can Island Port Apapa SIIFZ was established in January 2005 when Presidential Approval was granted for the commencement of Free Trade Zone operations on Snake Island.

While commenting on the impact of NipeX to the oil and gas industry, Mr Odoe noted that free and fair tendering process, healthy competitive environment and high confidence and trust have been established in the oil and gas industry through NipeX.

NipeX is an electronic one-stop transaction centre that improves on value procurement in the oil and gas industry and institutionalises world-class contracting processes in Nigeria. NipeX is a division of NAPIMS, a Corporate Service Unit of NNPC.