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What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)

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What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)

Old 7th Jun 2008, 08:53
  #2441 (permalink)  
 
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Thumbs up Warri-Topcon

Warri is the best gimmick - accommodation and work wise - in that latitude. Anyways, pm me if you need contacts
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Old 7th Jun 2008, 11:10
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Thumbs up Warri is Good

If you're going to the Chevron base working on the 412, it's very good. Security is good, you live just over the road from the helicopter base and even for that there's a security convoy. Housing is excellent with a swimming pool, tennis courts and gymnasium. Good food and a bar. The rooms are very nice with satellite TV and cooking facilities and there's even a small supermarket on the base.

If you're going to Shell to work on the EC155, you'll live on a large secure camp which also has swimming pool and tennis courts, plus a golf course.

Overall, Warri with Bristow is one of the better places to work in Nigeria
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Old 7th Jun 2008, 12:16
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Steady Anjouan!

There goes a best kept secret!

All that Anjouan says is true but remember good Security is a double edged weapon.

Everything that Chevron and Shell do to keep you safe also means that you are effectively "locked in" for 6 weeks albeit in very pleasant surroundings.

p.s. the Prodeco supermarket is not exactly Tesco, Sainsburys or even Walmart - the heads that run it still haven't learned that it is better for them to sell 100 units with a 20% profit margin than 1 unit with a 500% margin!
Try a US$70.00 bottle of Italian Vino!
The Park & Rob - sorry O! Shop at Shell is a little better although still relying heavily on "Shellies" with more Naira allowances than a local politician to buy their high priced goods rather than poor Bristow Folk
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Old 7th Jun 2008, 15:45
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locked in

People keep saying you are locked in, you can't go anywhere.....

Where the hell do you want to go??????? it is Nigeria.... do you want to go to local pub, local football game, local beach??? I think not

Being so called locked in is fine by me, as I realy don't have anywhere I want to go anyway. I am just there to work, get paid and then go home

It is just like working in a remote area.. So what is the gripe about being locked in
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Old 7th Jun 2008, 15:50
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DoinTime

Well said and apt callsign.
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Old 7th Jun 2008, 18:23
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Does anyone have any insight into how long it would take an American to get a Nigerian work Visa? Thank you,

Rev
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Old 7th Jun 2008, 21:15
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Because it is "Nigeria?"

@Doin Time and Zalt,
Sad attitude there, boys.
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 05:16
  #2448 (permalink)  
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These days all bases are locked in, it's just a type rating lottery as to whether you get one with facilities or one without. Escravos is 28/28 but all the others are 6/6.

Warri and Port Harcourt have reasonably bearable "open" prisons whereas Eket has one big maximum security death row cell block with no facilities at all. I hear pilots are leaving there almost monthly.
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 07:35
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DoinTime & Zalt

I am just there to work, get paid and then go home
A lot of us will remember the days when a morning shopping at Esco and the veg market, straight into a lunchtime session at "Aunties" followed by an afternoon sailing or windsurfing or waterskiing at the Bredero Price Beach then evening out at the Jade Garden eating excellent chinese food washed down with copious quantities of Gilbeys & freshly squoze OJ helped 8:4 seem much more bearable.

Even in much more recent history, the ability to visit other bases "Fish & Chip Nights" or Bridge or Poker evenings made for a much healthier attitude than the one expressed in the quote above.

Tell me I'm wrong!

p.s. For Reverend

Work visa is not really relevant to you.

Whichever Company you join has an Expatriate Visa Quota and they take care of all the paperwork for you - you work in the meantime. NCAA Licence formalities can be the real p.i.a. with you kicking your heels in lagos waiting for Air Law results etc.
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 12:08
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Troglodita,

How right you are! Doin Time and Zalt must be really cheerful people to be with eh . You didn't have to be too much into the Nigerian scene to enjoy a pleasant social life here. As you say, at warri there were Pork Nights and Fish and Chip Nights with Bristow, occasional barbecues at Aero, water ski-ing, lovely Sundays on the beach at Abraka diving and eating tilapia freshly grilled after with an ice cold beer, or the bush meat barbecues at Auntie's on a Sunday. In Port Harcourt there were opportunities for traditional Sunday lunch at the Toby Jug, great curries at 8 Tombia Street, good Chinese at the Eastern Gardens, delicious Steaks alongside the swimming pool at the Blue Elephant or a good pizza at the Pizza Royale. We also used to go swimming at Azumini or diving at Aguta Lake. On Sunday afternoons always a good friendly crowd and live music at The Blues cafe or listen to me, Etienne T Boy in ine of several bars in Rumuola. In Lagos there were great weekends at Lekki Beach where you could always hire a beach house for the day and have a seaside barbecue or take a boat to Tarkwa Bay and have a day on the beach eating all sorts of food brought by the beach vendors - fresh coconuts and pineapple, suya, plantains and bananas. Very happy days, now sadly gone.

GMIA,

I believe that only Escravos is now 4/4 with Bristow and all the other bases are either 6/6 or 8/4 (though with 8/4 only being paid 25% more than 6/6 I don't think it has many takers ).
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 14:24
  #2451 (permalink)  
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etienne,

Sorry, I should have suffixed 28/28 with days and 6/6 with weeks ! And it's 20% on basic pay for 8/4 weeks.
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 15:26
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Troglodita, thanks for the info (and for elevating me to the clergy. I'm surprised I qualify, frankly, with all the sex and drugs and rock 'n roll in my past).
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 16:58
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Sorry - just a realist. Not every job is run from a holiday resort nor is every country safe to wander round.
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 18:41
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Sorry Rev

I'm surprised I qualify, frankly, with all the sex and drugs and rock 'n roll in my past).
Sorry Rev (olutionary not erend!)

Probably the code of business insanity - sorry integrity - playing on my brain!

Visions of born again wide eyed zealots turning up and asking "did you really dash the security person 10 naira in 1985 to overlook your expired work visa?" at the front of the brain!

Did you work at Gulf Helis in the 90's?

You would have fitted in fine!

Cheers

Trog
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Old 8th Jun 2008, 21:10
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Troglodita and Etienne t boy

Yes, we used to be able to take long walks along the beach holding hands bla bla bla. Please if you could just take some time to wipe that tear away before it spills into your already watered down beer.

Times have changed and they will continue to ride the waves of the political climate in an unstable, at best corrupt government.

There are still BBQ’s, Poker nights and general social gatherings. You can still have a social life in the compounds you live in. After all it is what you make it and for most, the people that are in the same situation do make the most of it and you end up with a good bunch of guys. So it really is not that bad.

I am simply saying the fact that you can’t venture out side the gates does not bother me as I am not really there to frolic in the sun. “I am there to work, get paid, then go home to my family and enjoy the large amounts of time off.” It is after all a job and it pays well.

The only other paces around that pay that sort of money are usually remote areas where there is no place to go anyway, so I view it the same. If I am wrong please let me know where those jobs are.

I hope one day it does go back to the “good old day’s” though I am not going to hold my breath. So until then keep the gates closed, the beer cold and the group of guys in good company.

Batter Up.
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Old 9th Jun 2008, 14:04
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Chc In Nigeria

Anyone Know What Is Going On With Chc And Acn? How Many 225s Do They Have There Now? When Are More Coming? Any Word About The Fixed Wings? Who Owns The Fixed Wings?
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Old 10th Jun 2008, 21:37
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Warri , Port Harcourt... nobody talks about Snake Island

What helos Bristow use in Snake Island ? Lots of good talk about places here and there but nobody talks about S Island ? Is it better than Warri or others or is it just one of the place on earth where to get you must know the secret hand shake...
Anybody been there ?
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Old 10th Jun 2008, 23:11
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Secret Handshake to Snake Island?

Rotoranus,
You should get yourself a new technical advisor. Nobody needs any handshake - secret or openly - to arrive at snake islands, Here, we are all equally worthless.
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Old 11th Jun 2008, 02:29
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13 Dead in attacks

Nine killed in attack on ship off coast of Nigeria


Paris: Nine Nigerian Navy soldiers were killed in an attack on a military ship off the coast of Nigeria, according to a radio report on Tuesday.

Four other civilians were injured in the attack, Radio Monte Carlo reported, quoting a Nigerian military spokesman.

In a separate incident, at least one person was killed when gunmen in southern Nigeria attacked an oil facility, the Nigerian navy said.

The attack occurred at an facility for Canadian company Addax Petroleum.

"There was a second attack off Qua Iboe river on an Addax facility today. One civilian was killed, two injured. One naval personnel was injured too," a Nigerian navy spokesman said.

A senior state security official said this latest attack targeted an Addax vessel and not an oil facility.

The Beat goes on!
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Old 11th Jun 2008, 06:38
  #2460 (permalink)  
 
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Thanks Archos!

Thank You Archos, You was so nice and polite. It looks that I got answer.
At least answer about person attitude. Please,does anybody has real and no-nonsense info. Your problems in area looks same as here in Bolivia. Sorry about persons lost in action/work, RIP.
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