Local Content: Sifax Advocates 70% Involvement of Nigerians in Shipping Industry
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By Margaret Nongo-Okojokwu

Sifax Group is advocating for 70 per cent involvement of Nigerians in the shipping industry for economic advancement and development of the country.
The Head, Group Development and Strategy, Sifax Group, Victor Olaseyin, stated this in an exclusive interview with Majorwaves Energy Report on the side lines of the Day of the Seafarers Forum, held recently in Lagos. The company, which is a multinational organization, has interest in virtually all sectors of  the Nigerian economy such as  logistics, terminal operation, hospitality and other auxiliary services within the shipping industry.

Sifax Group, which recently won the bid at the Warri Port, Terminal B, on which the dredging is currently ongoing, also has portfolio in the banking sector in two African countries – The Gambia and Sierra Leone.According to Olaseyin, the company which has been in existence for over three decades, is currently expanding into Europe and America, and has partnership with various companies, including a recent partnership with Marriot International. Responding to a question on what the company is doing regarding local content, he said, “Well, for now, we are an Indigenous company and virtually everything we do is driven by indigenous personnel – people who believe in local content policy. And to a greater extent, we have been advocating and also mindful that the only way we can move our economy forward is to work with indigenous people to make sure that various areas especially within our own space, that is shipping space, as much as possible, more than 60 to 70 per cent into the business work space such that the Nigerian economy can improve.” The company, which is virtually in all the sub- Saharan Africa and also in the United Kingdom and the United States, is also a major shareholder in SAHCOL Nigeria Limited. Speaking on the issue of trust and integrity, Olaseyin noted that the lengthy years of Sifax in the business environment has made it possible for the company to become a force to reckon with.
He said, “If you have been doing something for a very long time, you must have become a master in it. And as a matter of fact, let me just tell you why people should trust us more. Recently, we became a majority shareholder in SAHCOL Nigerian Limited. And you know in the ground handling business, we have two businesses which are like a duopoly, you have NAHCO and you have SAHCOL.
“Recently, we are actually matching in greater proportion what NAHCO has been doing and so we have been partnering with a whole lot of other international organizations, and so for us just like I mentioned before , we also have our influence in terminal operations in Nigeria and a whole lot of business come through us. And to that extent, Sifax can be reliable and trust worthy to a point that once you give us your service to render for you, you can go to sleep and have it delivered on time.”
Olaseyin called on International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the country to identify with Sifax Group on any form of shipment Services they want, assuring them of worthwhile services. “We want to tell them Sifax is ready for them and willing to deploy all its resources and arsenal to service them in whatever capacity they want us to come in. They can rely on us and we are ready at any point in time at their beck and call, irrespective of the size, the shape, or volume; in whatever ways of shipment they want to us to be of service, we are available” he said.
Also speaking during the interview, the Head, Sales and Marketing, Linda George, said that what has been the unique selling point of Sifax Group is that the company offers a variety of services to its clients. “Well, our unique selling point is Sifax as a brand name and as a group; because we have a lot of subsidiaries offering all kinds of services. We are just a one stop shop where you can come for your shipping, transport and logistics, for your clearing, the hospitality end, the air freight, shipment and all that. We are port handlers. We have various warehouses. We operate an off dock terminal. We are at the Tincan Port, Apapa port and recently at the Warri Port,” she stated.

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