Norfin Offshore Shipyard has commenced building of security patrol vessels in Akwa Ibom State barely six days after an attack on its facility by suspected militants
Speaking with newsmen at the Shipyard at Oruk-Anam local government area, Wednesday, the Chairman and CEO of Norfin Group, Mr Iniekong Udonwa, said the aim was to reduce the level of piracy and other heinous crimes in the territorial waters.
Last week, some suspected militants attacked the shipyard and destroyed properties worth N60 million.
“This is the only shipyard in Nigeria that is going into ship building, others are only into maintenance and repairs
“We are now building security vessels to add value to Nigeria and reduce piracy in the country. The International Communities are shouting everyday over piracy, just last week they killed one crew member and abducted fifteen others at Turkish container vessels,” he said.
Accordingly, Udonwa hinted that the Amnesty Nigeria and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have approached the company to train Niger Delta youths on ship building.
He said the aim was to take the youths away from cultism, militancy, kidnapping and armed robbery to a fruitful venture.
According to him, the training would avail the youths opportunity to become professional ship builders and that would enable them to get a job in any part of the world.
He said, “NDDC approached us and negotiated on training some youths interested in ship building from this area and we agreed to partner with them. Even Amnesty Nigeria has also approached us demanding cultists and militants to surrender their arms and be trained in the shipyard.
“This is going to open up the opportunity for our youths to be trained and provide employment. Our youths will receive first hand training so that when they are specialized, they could have access to build ships in Europe and other continents because people are looking for ship builders.
“We will soon embark on construction of other sea going vessels, including ferries, barges, fishing trawlers among others.
“We need to build about four ferries for Calabar-Oron and another four ferries for Bonny- Port Harcourt. For Oron we are going to build a fishing fleet to boost the economy.
Udonwa who urged Akwa Ibom people to pick interest in the maritime industry said ; “Akwa Ibom produces 65%(percent) of crude oil in Nigeria and there is a need for Akwa Ibom people to get involved in the maritime sector.
“This is a money-spinning investment, and Akwa Ibom is losing $5million daily following the inability of our own people to get involved in ship owning business and investment in the maritime sector. All we are concerned is politics.”
He made a case for a state owned financial institution that would help the people access credit facilities to enable them acquire ships and invest in the nation’s maritime industry.
“We need an Akwa Ibom bank that would support our people to buy ships and invest in the maritime and oil and gas sector.
“If Akwa Ibom people can purchase 50 ships, that could generate about $50 million revenue to the state.
However, the shipyard would officially be commissioned by the state government on Saturday January 30, 2021 at the company’s shipyard in Oruk-Anam with the unveiling of ‘MV Norfin Swift’, a nine-meter security patrol vessel.
