Hm froggy,
Let's just examine that in a bit more detail shall we?
Heavily investing in Nigeria, or only in Port Harcourt, the only place where it has a significant helicopter presence? Brand new aircraft? Well, I guess you're just looking at one of Bristow's smaller operations, that at NAF where they have some old aircraft which are soon leaving. Remember that as opposed to CHC's 17 or so helicopters in Nigeria, Bristow has over 40. Of CHC's helicopters 5 are owned by NNPC and one by River's State Government. Of Bristow's helicopters 6 are owned by Shell. Bristow has many new bell 412EPs at QIT, with more on the way and will shortly have the first S76C++s in Nigeria, an aircraft with a rather more useful payload and range than the 365N3. The AW139 has yet to prove itself in this environment and is not on the Shell list of approved aircraft. It has great single-engine performance, but with the resultant penalty of high fuel burn and limited range for a helicopter of its size. It also has a very poor baggage capacity and the same C of G problems which plagued the S76 for years. For around $3 million more than an S76, it doesn't seem to offer a significantly large advantage. IMHO, the problems of getting the range the oil companies will need for the real deepwater fields will require something with significantly more range or payload, such as the AS332L2, the EC225 or the S92.
The new CHC hangar is being built at great expense on the NAF Base, a place from which all the civil operators have been expelled at short notice at least 3 times in the last few years. Maybe there's a reason why Bristow is biding its time? I'm sure the shareholders wouldn't be happy to see a multi-million dollar investment confiscated by the military. If you think that's a flight of fancy, just have a look at what some of the more likely contenders for President are talking about doing: talking with the Venezuelans about nationalising lots of oil companies here. It's already been done in the past with BP.
The death camp is still a pipe dream, more than 6 months after the land was purchased, and it wasn't CHC's idea; it was purchased by Aero Contractors. In the meantime, nothing is being done about providing safe and secure accommodation in Port Harcourt for Aero staff. By the end of the month, all Bristow staff will have been moved to approved secure housing, whilst all CHC do is talk, talk, talk. The new Bristow housing already has swimming pools and all modern sporting facilities, with the possible exception of Calabar (and Escravos no longer has a swimming pool, but crews only spend 4 weeks there). You're certainly right about the loss of licence and many in Bristow were very disappointed when that was not re-introduced in their new salary package in December. As for the hospital issue, that's certainly something which needs addressing urgently, but whether it will be or not, nobody knows. It's interesting that you say that salaries are nearly the same as I hear that all the pilots who have left CHC for Bristow have had an increase in salary. However, as is always the case in this industry, one will be better one year, another the next. It's also about time CHC introduced a proper way of paying a standard monthly salary without staff having to claim for it, and large fluctuations in pay. Remember that there's a great deal of difference between the illusion of going forward and the reality. More companies are being run by people who have no interest in aviation per se, only in the money which can be made from it, and shareholders are only interested in the bottom line.... $$$$$$.