The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has asked well-meaning Nigerians to support the laudable operations ongoing at the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) due to its multiplier effects and positive impact on the nation’s economy.
Controller, Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Willy Egbudin gave this charge on Wednesday when he led other senior management team members of the Command on a working visit to the expansive industrial zone in Lagos.
“I am impressed with the expansion and operation at LADOL. They need all the support because their operation will certainly boost the economy. LADOL has become a huge industrial centre. We need to encourage them to continue to do what they are doing.
“LADOL is a very good project which must be supported,” the Customs Area Controller said.
Egbudin and his entourage, which include the Deputy Comptroller in charge of LADOL, DC M.J Gwani; the Deputy Comptroller, Special Duty, DC Adekunle Oloyede and the Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Ekpa, were conducted round the sprawling LADOL Base by its Managing Director, Dr. Amy Jadesimi.
“As the first and only facility of its kind in West Africa, LADOL was created to ensure that the Nigerian economy benefits directly from its deep offshore oil and gas reserves, by creating tens of thousands of jobs. The world-class facilities and services built at LADOL are encouraging multinational firms exploiting the deep water oil reserves to utilize Nigerian companies to service their operations, creating jobs for Nigerians as well as ensuring training, knowledge and technology transfer into the country,” Dr. Jadesimi said.
She said the Base also provides ship and rig repairs, as well as low cost drilling and production support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“The LADOL Base provides a one stop shop, including fabrication and assembly yard, people management, catering, facilities for the supply of bulk materials, a helicopter base, open and closed storage facilities, sewage and waste treatment, potable water and medical services,” she said.
The team also inspected the SHI-MCI Free Zone Enterprise within the LADOL facility where the Egina FPSO is being fabricated.
Dr. Jadesimi said the SHI-MCI Free Zone has a quay length of approximately 500 meters, with a draft of 13.5 meters and the lardest crane in West Africa, lifting area of 5,000 metric tons, giving it the largest quayside cranes in Africa in the continent’s largest vessel fabrication and integration facility, this will make Nigeria a West African Hub creating over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
She said the facility, which is fully operational, has a production capacity of 10, 000 metric tons.
Dr. Jadesimi said LADOL would continue to work with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Customs Service to enhance revenue and diversification of the nation’s revenue base.
“We are optimistic that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to support wholly owned Nigerian companies helping to industrialise Nigeria, like LADOL.
“We believe that the maritime sector can do more for the economy if you add fabrication and integration. The maritime industry should be able to fund more than 30 per cent of the national budget,” she added.
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