The Nation Newspaper

Tag: firm

  • Firm loses millions in inferno

    Firm loses millions in inferno

    a construction company on MCC Road, off Aba-Owerri Expressway, Aba, Abia State, Zerock Construction, lost property worth millions of naira in a mysterious fire that engulfed its premises yesterday.

    Equipments affected were mainly heavy-duty vehicles.

    Though the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, sources said the fire was fierce and insufficient water in the compound made it difficult to quench it at the early stage.

    A resident said: “We initially thought the people were burning dry leaves. But it got to a point where the fire became more intense and afterwards, we saw fire service truck drive into the compound and later out, apparently to get a refill.

    “The workers locked their gates and didn’t allow anyone into the compound”.

    Another resident, Felix, said the inferno started at about 5pm and that its cause remains unknown.

    State Fire Service Chief Gbaruko Victor said they were yet to ascertain the cause of the fire, even as he debunked instantaneous fire ignition temperature as the cause.

    According to Victor, they would be moving into the company’s premises to ascertain the cause of the fire and to get an estimation of how much property was lost.

    When The Nation visited the premises, workers were seen trying to evacuate some of their equipments.

  • Firm unveils power equipment

    A firm, Mantrac Nigeria Limited, said it would provide a ‘Smarter Energy Solution’ to help improve power supply in the country.

    The company, which is the only organisation that has the franchise to distribute caterpillar products in Nigeria, said the solution is driven by gas.

    The Managing Director, Edmund Martin Lawson, who made this known during a seminar in Lagos, said the solution uses gas, adding that institutions and individuals, who can afford the equipment can use it generate electricity.

    He said Stanbic IBTC Plc has promised to finance the acquisition of the equipment through the CAT Financial Service.

    He said: “The engines will help in bringing power closer to the communities. The country is facing problems in the areas of generation, distribution and transmission of electricity. When the solution or technology is well deployed, there would be power in areas where it is used.’’

    He said industries would operate optimally once power is improved, adding that employment opportunities would be created in the process.

    He said: ‘’Given the fact that the economy has grown in the past at an average of six percent per annum without adequate power, coupled with the fact that Nigerian economy has been ranked first in Africa one can imagine what the country would do, if the power is stable.’’

    Martin-Lawson said the country is battling huge volume of untreated gas, stressing that if such gas is well channeled to where it can be used to provide electricity, the economy would be better.

    “If you use the gas well, you will be able to reduce the cost of power, power need is going into the next level and we should be able to assist as many as are willing to kick start the operation and the ones that are already in operation; we want to give them the support to achieve their objectives.

    “As of today, we do diesel but there is no argument that gas is the cheapest source of power. We cannot compare what we spend on gas to what we spend on diesel. Gas is lighter, it is environmentally friendly; it reduces pollution and emission; it is cleaner.’’ That is the closest to green energy.

  • Firm unveils 3D technology in Nigeria

    Firm unveils 3D technology in Nigeria

    No doubt that developed economies were transformed with the arrival of technology, Africa, though way behind, is set for transformation as more Africa-focused-technological driven innovations are bathed by Africans in Diaspora.

    Recently, a Nigerian serial entrepreneur, Israel Ovirih, introduced Africa’s first 3 dimension scanning and printing services, adding a new dimension to selfies in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the launch of the ‘disruptive technology’, Ovirih described the technology as one that will outshine every other technology availing youths employment through self dependence in Nigeria.

    3D printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing (AM), refers to various processes used to synthesize a three-dimensional object.

    In 3D printing, successive layers of material are formed under computer control to create an object.

    These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry, and are produced from a 3D model or other electronic data source.

    According to the Nigeria Chairman and Founder, 3D Makery, Ovirih, 3D scanning and printing service is the “ultimate selfie technology” in Nigeria and Africa.

    It can be for you, your spouse, child, or pet, anything that can be scanned inside the Shapify booth preserve the most memorable moments with the ultimate selfie.

    The introduction of this service marks the first in Africa and one of the numerous few that are available around the world.

    Ovirih disclosed to Journalist at the launch in Lagos that the innovation, about 30 years old now, started only 2 years ago for commercial purposes.

    Referring to initial technological innovations that were introduced to Africa and the aftermath effect, Ovirih said: “This is a very disruptive technology. You can imagine what happened to the post office, the way we buy things and the way we live our lives using Smartphones.

    “But technology in its self is not just disruptive. The purpose of every technology is to bring abundance to the world, make life easy for everyone and to deliver good life to everyone.

    “Every technology must pass through six stages. Every business that fails to embrace technology is bound to die, because the younger generations will over run such businesses with new ideas.

    “3D technology is opening up a whole new world of possibilities and the reward of 3D printing technology is that the scan can be used to produce a full color figurine known as a ‘Shapie.’

    “We’re thrilled bringing this advanced 3D tools and knowledgeable support team to help grow Nigeria’s technology business. We have had success and satisfaction with this technology and, upon experiencing the technology ourselves, knew it would be a benefit for Nigerians. We are confident customers will embrace this technology. While it’s still wonderful to have collections of photos, this 3D technology offers a new way to revisit a memory with a 3D portrait.”

    On the mechanics of the 3D Technology, the Chief Operating Officer, 3D Makery Nigeria, Damola Kolawole explained that the booth where all the magic happens contains four wide-view, high-resolution scanners that rotate around the person inside in order to capture the person or object from all angles.

  • Firm clears air on Afren buyout

    ORIENTAL Energy Resources Limited, which has 60% equity owner in Ebok and Okwok assets, offshore Nigeria, and the licensee and operator in Nigeria has provided insights on the resolution of issues arising from it receivership of Afren Plc (in Administration) following its insolvency.

    It may be recalled that following the implementation of the Ebok Field Transition Plan in August 2015, Oriental took full operational control of the Ebok field from Afren plc’s wholly-owned subsidiary Afren Resources Limited thus providing working capital to fund all operations, while absorbing key operations’ personnel.

    In a statement made available to The Nation the company stated that since takeover, Oriental has transferred the employment of 100 key Afren Commercial, Legal, Technical and operational staff to Oriental directly, assuming direct responsibility for their upkeep and the London and Houston offices.

    Besides, Oriental is in the process of completing the transfer of all technical agreements and contractual agreements related to the Ebok field, and has assumed responsibility for all costs for field operations from 1 August 2015 just as it has presented to and received the formal support of the Department of Petroleum Resources and its Partners and Farmors in the OML 67 NNPC ExxonMobil JV in its assumption of full operational control of the Ebok field.

    These measures, the firm stated, demonstrate Oriental’s clear capability to assume both financial and technical leadership for the on-going and safe  production operations at Ebok, and the further field development that has been planned.

    Oriental wishes to re-iterate to ALL Interested Parties who may have an interest in pursuing a commercial opportunity in any of the Oriental-Afren JV properties in Nigeria, which includes the Ebok, Okwok, and OML115 licenses, that ANY acquisition, transfer, or purchase of an economic interest in any petroleum license area in Nigeria is subject to the prior approval of: the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); ExxonMobil and NNPC as the Farmors of the Ebok and Okwok Fields; and Oriental Energy Resources, as the Nigerian 60% Participatory Interest owner and Operator for the Okwok, Ebok, and OML115 assets. Equally, Oriental wishes to ensure stakeholders are aware that any interested party seeking to pursue a commercial opportunity on the Ebok or Okwok licences, is required to assume all partner carry obligations, and to pay all the outstanding and material outstanding Contractor debts incurred by the Afren entites and all defaulted and breach obligations previously covered by Afren.

    Oriental further reassured following its swift action to implement the Ebok Transition plan, the dissolution of Afren Plc will have no material impact on safe operations and production and development work will continue as planned.

    Despite the series of unfortunate events that have taken place over the past 18 months, Oriental believes that the steps being taken in assuming operational control of its assets are testament to the growth and strength of Nigerian indigenous oil and gas producers and the fulfilment of the national developmental aims set out in the indigenous concession programme and the marginal field programme.

  • Firm launches N20bn agric project in Nigeria

    Firm launches N20bn agric project in Nigeria

    The nation’s agriculture sub-sector is set to receive a major boost with the ambitious N20 billion project launched by CONTEC Global Agro Limited.

    Chairman/President, CONTEC Global, the parent body of CONTEC Global Agro Limited, Dr. Benoy Berry, who disclosed this in an interview in Lagos, said the project has reached advanced stage with remarkable results from farms in Lagos, Kaduna, Niger, Benue and the FCT, Abuja.

    Berry said: “We are commencing a comprehensive agricultural programme for Africa that would be executed through series of innovative strategies. Of course, Nigeria is priority. So we are starting here (Nigeria).

    “One of such is the bio-fertiliser project, which basically aims to increase the fertility of the soils, shorten crop production timeline and improve on quality of harvests and produce.”

    Speaking further, he said the bio-fertiliser project provides Nigeria an opportunity to leap-frog its food security status, filling up the gap caused by poor input and soil quality, which have been identified as some of the critical challenges facing the Nigerian farmer, as well as create employment.

    “We have trial farms in Niger State, Zaria, Makurdi, Sagamu, Lagos and a few other locations where the prowess of the fertiliser and other inputs have been proven beyond doubt, with the first set of harvests of crops grown using some of the inputs from farms in Niger State occurring on Saturday, December 5, 2015.”

    Expatiating, Berry said: “We have the Siri GA, a biological granular formulation (bio-fertiliser) that is developed to enhance root growth in density and spread, enhance nutrient and water uptake, build resistance against insects, pests and diseases, helps the crop withstand stress from temperature and physiological changes. The ultimate being improved quality and yield volume.”

    Pressed further, he said Growmore is a biological water soluble formulation that helps the plant to stimulate enzymes, resists pests and diseases by inducing systemic resistance, maintain high level of chlorophyll for better growth and increases the uptake of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Iron and Magnesium.

    “All these are designed to adapt to be crop-specific in their actions,” he said.

    Upbeat, the CONTEC boss said his company has already received numerous request from big farms like Chi Farms, Dangote and others, all seeking one form of partnership or the other.

    Experts from the United Kingdom are already in the country to map out and commence this leg of investment.

    He also disclosed that the large farm campuses are going to serve as research bases that would offer experts assistance to Nigerians and others on plant and animal sciences. This, he said, would help to make Nigeria an agricultural research hub for Africa.

    The CONTEC top brass also noted that government cooperation is key to the success of the programme, which he said has already caught the attention of partners and the governments in Burundi, Zimbabwe,Togo, Mali, among others in Africa.

  • Firm launches consumer loyalty reward portal

    Firm launches consumer loyalty reward portal

    In its quest to transform customer reward system in the country, a firm, PromoXchange has launched a portal where customers of different brands can be rewarded for their loyalty to the brands through a meter system.

    The mechanism involves using state of the art technology solution that effectively turns a mobile phone into an account that earns and accumulates points on transaction of goods and services thereby rewarding all customers unlike raffle draws that rewards only selected few.

    Justifying the need for the innovative product, the co-founder and managing director of the company, Philip Oke said: “PromoXchange solution is as easy as sending SMS. There are no entry barriers and it’s available on all GSM networks and also as mobile apps for smart devices. Considering that the mobile phone penetration in the Nigerian market now stands at about 80 per cent and growing.”

    Expatiating, he said: “In simple terms, it means that no matter where a product is sold, you would find a brand customer or a potential customer owning a mobile phone. Consequently, we see an opportunity to influence transaction and consumption behaviour through an innovative solution that connects mobile phone users who are also sales merchant, brand customers to their favourite products or brands at anytime and anywhere.”

    “PromoXchange provides several compelling tactics that ensures that channel partners, brand customers, including consumer behaviour are influenced which ultimately results in increased transaction and consumption of products, goods and services. In the long run, together as partners, PromoXchange work with brands towards stimulating product usage that drives your brand success in the market place,” he added.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Adeoye Abodunrin, the chief operating officer, Cubed Integrated Marketing Consulting, said the platform is a landmark.

    “There are many places where the customer is not known. How amount of attention companies pay to their customer is meager and the companies have no choice than to pay adequate attention to their customers,” adding that organisations should begin to think differently about their customers and PromoXchange helps to achieve that.

  • Firm sensitises companies to act

    The Eni Group made up of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Nigeria Agip Energy (NAE) and Agip Energy and Natural Resources (AENR) has promised to sensitise Nigerian companies on the opportunities available to them in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

    The General Manager, District of NAOC, Mr Paola Carnevale made the promise during the Vendor Upgrade, Awareness and Sensitisation Engagement, which is the third session of the Nigerian Content Week organised in Port Harcourt by Eni for indigenous contractors in the oil and gas industry.

    Carnevale said the training programme, which is in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), would help to enlighten indigenous companies on the provisions of the NOGICD Act.

    Other aspects of the training which he said companies would be enlightened on are “the key requirements for successful tendering and contracting process targeted at eliminating Nigerian content failures; Nigerian content measurement and evaluation; Nigerian content opportunities as well as NCDMB monitoring requirements.”

    He also said the initiative, which began  last year, has so far been attended by 250 companies, pointing out that out of this number, 130 promising companies that were unable to scale the Nigerian content pre-qualification participated in the third session of the training.

    In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Denzil Kentebe said the NOGICD Act is a “demonstration of government’s emphasis on indigenous contractors’ active participations in the oil and gas sector.”

    Kentebe, who was represented by the Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation of NCDMB, William Arikekpar also stressed on the five major roles which the NOGICD Act conferred on his board, adding that “the focus of Nigerian content is not ‘Nigerianisation’ of the oil and gas sector but ‘domiciliation’ of value-adding activities.

    The NCDMB boss also said his organisation’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGAPS) programme would create about 10,000 direct jobs from parks design, construction operations and support.

    Continuing, he said the NOGAPS would stimulate manufacturing of equipment packages, components and spares for oil and gas industry and develop local small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) and then partner them with original equipment manufacturers to enable them acquire manufacturing expertise.

    While advising local vendors to take advantage of the fairs being organised for SMEs, he also promised researchers and academics specialised in oil and gas research to adopt and create funding mechanisms for research work and clusters, majority of which are in the Niger Delta area.

     

  • Firm unveils $450m estate project

    Sijimoto Construction Limited, a real estate firm has concluded plans to commence the building of a massive edifice to meet the demand for choice residential accommodations in Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

    The Managing Director of Sijimoto Construction Limited Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele told The Nation the multimillion dollar project will be nestled on 3,800 square meters of land in the highbrow Bourdillion area of Ikoyi will be the tallest high rise on 25 floors with three pent houses.

    Ogundele said Lorenzo by Sujimoto is a magnificent development and symbol of structural mastery they hope to realise in Ikoyi’s prestigious neighbourhood of Bourdillon within a duration of 30 months adding to the large image the area invokes currently.

    According to him, the project is 30 per cent financed by the company and 40 percent by investors while off takers has 30 equity stakes in the project.

    He said, “As a society, we must free ourselves from architectural slavery. This is why in terms of features and amenities, Lorenzo by Sujimoto leads the pack in comparison to other projects within Lagos, Nigeria and Africa. With its state of the art facilities, standing shoulder-to-shoulder to what exists in top-rated countries; it is definitely a force to reckon with.”

    The fully automated outstanding luxury apartments, he said, have two kitchens, three parking spaces, standard gym, world class spa, crèche, exceptional landscape and a five-star restaurant, penthouse suite with private swimming pool.

    “The Lorenzo’s vista bestows breath-taking views of the Lekki-Ikoyi cable bridge, the Bourdillon Boulevard, the Lagos lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. The right choice for perceptive property aficionados ready for a fusion of smart-home technology and neo-classicist crafted residences in one of the most sought after vicinity in Lagos, Nigeria.”

    Ogundele further explained that the real estate company presents home owners the elegance of world class residential poise on the nation’s shores with unrivalled features, facilities and excellent services.

    “The average contemporary apartment on Bourdillon is over $1 million and the prices keep getting better for property owners. Over the years, Bourdillon road seem to always come tops  and resilient in the high end real estate market, this proven resilience makes it a sure bet for investors.”

    “Indoor Virtual Golf & bar/Exclusive Cigar bar, 24 hours Mini Mart, Pharmacy & Clinic (Residents only) operational swimming pools (One on the 16th floor and the other on the lobby/podium).”

    According to him there will be ample vehicular parking of  two to four slots per unit, adding that price starts from 900,000 USD which is equivalent of  N190 million. On the design he said some investors that cited the 3D pictures of the luxury flats said it is an exact replica of the Zaha Hadid, the first residential building in New York.

  • Firm sensitises companies to act

    The Eni Group made up of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Nigeria Agip Energy (NAE) and Agip Energy and Natural Resources (AENR) has promised to sensitise Nigerian companies on the opportunities available to them in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

    The General Manager, District of NAOC, Mr Paola Carnevale made the promise during the Vendor Upgrade, Awareness and Sensitisation Engagement, which is the third session of the Nigerian Content Week organised in Port Harcourt by Eni for indigenous contractors in the oil and gas industry.

    Carnevale said the training programme, which is in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), would help to enlighten indigenous companies on the provisions of the NOGICD Act.

    Other aspects of the training which he said companies would be enlightened on are “the key requirements for successful tendering and contracting process targeted at eliminating Nigerian content failures; Nigerian content measurement and evaluation; Nigerian content opportunities as well as NCDMB monitoring requirements.”

    He also said the initiative, which began  last year, has so far been attended by 250 companies, pointing out that out of this number, 130 promising companies that were unable to scale the Nigerian content pre-qualification participated in the third session of the training.

    In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Denzil Kentebe said the NOGICD Act is a “demonstration of government’s emphasis on indigenous contractors’ active participations in the oil and gas sector.”

    Kentebe, who was represented by the Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation of NCDMB, William Arikekpar also stressed on the five major roles which the NOGICD Act conferred on his board, adding that “the focus of Nigerian content is not ‘Nigerianisation’ of the oil and gas sector but ‘domiciliation’ of value-adding activities.

    The NCDMB boss also said his organisation’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGAPS) programme would create about 10,000 direct jobs from parks design, construction operations and support.

    Continuing, he said the NOGAPS would stimulate manufacturing of equipment packages, components and spares for oil and gas industry and develop local small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) and then partner them with original equipment manufacturers to enable them acquire manufacturing expertise.

    While advising local vendors to take advantage of the fairs being organised for SMEs, he also promised researchers and academics specialised in oil and gas research to adopt and create funding mechanisms for research work and clusters, majority of which are in the Niger Delta area.

     

  • Power institute, firm partner on skills acquisition

    The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), has partnered TE Connectivity, to improve the skills of workers in the sector.

    TE Connectivity prided itself as a global leader in connectivity, with expertise in fusing  solutions together in order to bring about the desired growth  in an organisation.

    NAPTIN, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Reuben Okeke, said, the sector has experienced setbacks due to problems such as inadequate  infrastructure and poor output of energy efficiency, adding that the development informed the decision of  NAPTIN to partner with TE Connectivity,   in order to develop solutions that would help  in improving the skills of workers in the power sector.

    He said:  “The sector needs skilled technicians, and this partnership with TE is meant to help achieve sufficiency in power supply, which is one of the steps taken to encourage industrialisation and further improve the economy.

    “This is very important at this time, as the sector needs to develop its talent base to improve electricity supply in Nigeria.’’