Ini Ekong Charles Udonwa is the Executive Chairman of Norfin Offshore Shipyard Limited and Executive Chairman of Norfin Offshore Group, promoters of a new shipyard located at Oruk Anam, Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with AYOYINKA JEGEDE, he reveals how shipbuilding and maintenance can help reduce insecurity, unemployment and other vices in the country.
What’s the importance of shipbuilding to the nation’s economy?
Nigerians, the government and companies import averagely $5.6 billion dollars worth of vessels into the country yearly to operate in oil and gas industries, and also into fishery industry. Most of these are in purchases of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading ships (FPSO), security vessels, jack up rigs, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels and other related offshore support vessels. For instance, Egina FPSO delivered to Nigeria in January in 2018 costs up to $8 billion.
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Okon Bassey in Uyo
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has inaugurated a nine-meter fast security escort vessel, ‘MV Norfin Swift’ built by Norfin Offshore Shipyard Ltd in Oruk-Anam saying more private investments would be attracted to the state.
The inauguration of the project which took place at the Shipyard located along the Oruk-Anam axis of the East-West road, also culminated in the official unveiling of the multi-billion naira shipyard.
The governor said the security vessel which is for charter and direct purchase, as well as oil and gas related services was a historic endorsement of the industrialisation agenda of his administration.