By Godfrey Bivbere

About 20 companies based in the United Kingdom have indicated interest to invest in the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistic base otherwise known as LADOL Free Zone (LFZ) because of the facilities available there. The companies have already sent their representatives to the zone on a facts-finding mission. They are also mandated to assess the available facilities at the Zone to see whether the facilities could guarantee their investment plans.

The team which has John Crawford, a Deputy Director at the United Kingdom Trade and investment (UK T&I) as leader, was accompanied by representatives of the companies, were conducted round the base by the Managing Director of LADOL Dr. Amy Jadesimi, who assured the team of her organization’s readiness for partnership.

Jadesimi noted that although LADOL commenced full operations just a few years ago, it’s over $150 million dollars investment had already soared with groundbreaking jobs such as the famous Agbami Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform which installation was completed at the base, as well as a giant Noble Drilling Rigs maintenance recently undertaken at the base, amongst others.

She pointed out that LADOL’s market target goes beyond Nigeria to include the entire West Africa, Europe and beyond, considering the internationalized scope of its operations backed with the appropriate location at the Lagos West of the Niger which guarantees ease of acess to the base.

She said the company’s willingness to partner with relevant international organizations was informed by its scope of expansion which is being encouraged by the Local Content regime recently embarked upon by government. Jadesimi noted that LADOL has commenced the development of its phase two investment with a partnership deal with Samsung of Korea in building a state of the art FPSO that would be second to none in the sub-region.

Responding on behalf of the visiting team, Deputy Director of UKTI (Russia/Central Asia/Africa/Middle East), Mr. John Crawford, expressed delight at the facilities in the LFZ, saying “what we have seen here is impressive and encouraging”.

According to him, “what we have seen here shows that you have really done some home work and ready for business, and we shall not hesitate to take the message home to UK that your organization has what it takes to move Nigeria forward as a major oil and gas based country”.

Crawford however counseled the LADOL management to maintain business continuity in other to sustain the required interest of foreign investors who are wary of the dangers inherent in going into business deals with short life span. “We of the UK companies are willing and desirous of partnership by keying into your local content ideals. Nigeria is going deeper and deeper into the offshore business and it is also so in the UK, hence we have a lot in common”, he stressed.

Also speaking in the same vein, a female member of the team, Sue Whitbread, expressed delight at what she called, “the flexibility of your business focus that allows the location of other organizations within your zone. We will do our best to take the news of LADOL back to the UK that a lot is happening here that is suitable for investment”.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, the LADOL boss described the move as ‘very important to us as Nigerians considering that it affords the country international recognition not just as a player in the Oil and Gas industry, but as one that has the facilities to provide the needed logistics services. “It creates positive impression of Nigeria as the world has now realized that there is a high level of sophistication here in Nigeria such that will encourage direct foreign investment” she said.