The digital library and learning centre which was commissioned at the Niger Delta University (NDU,) Amassoma in Bayelsa State on April 19, this year is an unmissable landmark in the 24-year old institution. The multi-billion naira two-storey structure, funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) and its co-venture partners as well as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is a signpost to efforts to revolutionise e-learning and technology-driven teaching and research at the university. With a capacity to seat more than 2,000 users, the centre has, among other facilities, E-learning and Wi-Fi Lounge, as well as halls for reading, meeting and research, photography and online education centre, offices and ICT architecture. Students, lecturers and other stakeholders cheered as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo commissioned the centre.
The applause could also have been for the contractor who constructed what is arguably one of the most modern eLearning centres in a higher institution of learning in Nigeria. SNEPCo and its partners saw an opportunity to encourage the development of Nigerian contractors in the implementation of the project. This aligns with the aspiration of Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) for the growth of Nigerian contractors through award of contracts running into billions of dollars every year. In 2023 alone, SPDC, SNEPCo and Shell Nigeria Gas awarded contracts worth $1.98 billion to Nigeria-registered companies, marking a 3% increase in value in 2022.
General Manager Nigerian Content Development, The Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) ‘Lanre Lawuyi said: “Shell companies have worked closely with indigenous contractors in all spheres of our operations in oil and gas production on land, shallow offshore and deep-water. We not only award contracts but collaborate with indigenous contractors to build their capacity and close gaps in skills and expertise. This is an ongoing commitment that we fulfill everyday of which the learning centre project at Amassoma is only a recent example.”
A competitive tendering process saw Amecron Nigeria Ltd company, win the contract for the NDU contract. Amecron, one of hundreds of Nigerian entities registered SCiN, was incorporated in 1980 as a civil engineering firm serving both the private and public sectors before it went into oil and gas industry 10 years later. Managing Director Amecron, Engr. Enyinna Onyegbule said: “Thanks to the support and patronage of Shell and other companies, we’ve grown to handle engineering construction/fabrication, project management, ICT, procurement services and Human Resources management. We have executed many contracts for SPDC and SNEPCo and were prepared for the standards and demands of the NDU project.”
The contract scope for the digital library included civil, mechanical and electrical works, provision of IT tools, construction of water treatment plant, landscaping and branding. A key challenge was implementing a project in a “live environment” while the university community went about its business. Amecron project coordinator Oludotun Taiwo said: “Safety was the number 1 priority. We took into consideration SNEPCo’s guidance on Health Safety and Environment (HSE) and drew up plans which they approved. We tested the plans in drills and held regular toolbox meetings. Amecron management followed up with site visits to ensure compliance. We trained 31 personnel on basic fire-fighting skills while 20 were further trained as Tier 1 first aid responders.”
Amecron took steps to ensure that only fit and proper personnel and equipment were mobilsied to site. All staff had to pass a rigorous medical test while equipment were certified by third party inspectors. The company then went to work with the aim to safely deliver a quality product. They succeeded. The 216 employees on the project worked a total manhours of 475,998 without fatality or lost time injury. (The SCiN Goal-Zero safety campaign had taken root at another project site in the Niger Delta!) Amecron supported the development of local content in the implementation of the project as over 70% of the workforce came from the surrounding communities. According to the contract terms, the NDU digital library was to be built in 24 months, but Amecron started the work in May 2022 and delivered the imposing facility in April 2024, one month earlier than planned. All done safely, on time and within scope and budget!
‘Lanre said: “One of the rewards of promoting NCD is that the benefitting companies go on to empower yet other business entities. This is why at SCiN, we believe that NCD is a marathon not a sprint. It takes hardwork and support from all stakeholders with the right policies to develop Nigerian companies to execute contracts not only in Nigeria but also in the West African sub-region.”
Meanwhile, Amecron has continued to execute engineering, construction, fabrication and project management contracts in the Niger Delta and in other parts of Nigeria including, Anambra, Ogun, Kogi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Lagos, Edo and Ebonyi states. Onyegbule said: “We have gained a lot of experience executing projects while maintaining high standards and within the resources provided by the client.” It means that, with the continuing support of Shell Companies and other stakeholders, the applause for Nigerian contractors in the oil and gas industry can only get louder.
