NNPC, others partner to construct offshore base in Niger Delta

By Olivia Nnorom

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has partnered Akwa Ibom State government and Solutions Hub Limited to establish a fully integrated, deepwater logistics shore base in the Niger Delta state that will offer offshore construction and logistics services to the eastern flank of Nigeria, the West and Central African region.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, NNPC said Akwa Ibom State, the leadership of the national oil firm, and Solution Hub Ltd signed the deal to execute the shareholders’ agreement of Ibom Solution Hub Ltd.

According to the tweet, the logistics base proposed to be sited on a 40sq-km space in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, within the already designated Free Trade Zone in Akwa Ibom, was modelled to be an alternative to existing logistics bases in Nigeria to offer offshore construction support to West and Central African regions.

According to the tweets, Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State governor, thanked NNPC and Solution Hub for making the project a reality by choosing to partner the state.

Emmanuel reassured investors of the hospitality of the state and solicited more projects that would provide employment and development opportunities for indigenes of the state.

Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, NNPC board chairman, said the company was working with all relevant government agencies to deliver on the class facility.

She invited more partners to collaborate with NNPC in a bid to secure their right to play in Africa’s largest market by partnering with its largest energy company.

Mele Kyari, NNPC’s Group CEO, who spoke through Adokiye Tombomieye, executive vice president (Upstream), described the project as a game changer for the oil and gas industry, and for the nation’s economy.

Ibom Solution Hub Limited, a partnership of NNPC (30 percent), Solutions Hub Ltd (50 percent), and Akwa Ibom State government (20 percent), is a fully integrated, real deepwater logistics services base project.