13 August 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – STAKEHOLDERS in both Nigeria’s Aviation and oil and gas sectors, including the industries’ regulators, have commended Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and Caverton Helicopters on their partnership that has gone to boost the nations’ achievement in the area of local content development.
At the recent Business Performance Review of the five-year contract awarded in 2010 by Shell to Caverton Helicopters/Dancopter for the provision of aviation support services, stakeholders were unanimous that the development has boosted the development of indigenous Nigerian manpower.
Shell awarded Caverton the contract after a competitive bidding process. It is the biggest ever contract awarded by the oil multinational to an indigenous company and is seen as a major milestone in a field previously dominated by foreign companies.
The consensus among stakeholders at the meeting, which was held at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, was that the Shell/Caverton Helicopters’ partnership was an early proof of the workability and gains of the Nigerian Content development initiative of the Federal Government.
The Executive Secretary, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr Ernest Nwapa, who was represented by Mr. David Adeyeye, lauded Shell for taking local content development seriously and for taking the lead in this area. He also commended Caverton Helicopters for making a bold statement on behalf of indigenous companies.
“Caverton Helicopters has demonstrated that, as a nation, we can succeed if we are serious about capacity building and that the opportunity and potential to grow and do more is there,” he said.
On its part, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority also extolled Shell and Caverton Helicopters for partnering effectively for Nigerian Content development in such a strategic sector.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s representative at the event, Mr. Mike Uwaifo, particularly noted that the stride of Caverton Helicopters had been “surprising and heart-warming,’ adding that “the steady growth and progress of the company must be appreciated.”
