Ah, Nightfighting...SASless, I have to say that I've misbehaved in many parts of the world but I never ever ever ever entertained the idea in Nigeria.........much as I need to lose weight, that's not the way to do it :suspect:

We could write a book about the dangers of Night Fighting in Nigeria....midnight visits from the police who magically discover drugs in the one place they look. Nice police officers showing up to arrest folks for taking porn shots of innocent young women. Valuables disappearing about the same time a girlfriend ditches you. Heavens be....if the story behind the Captain Hyphen-Smyth School for Unwed Mothers in Eket ever got out. The image of one of Redhill's Third Floor Czars riding through Eket town and seeing the small one in the chain gang of criminals headed for court while in his uniform......yes....there are some stories there.

:E

Nice post chuks, and so true. There are so many things people could list that are wrong in Nigeria (and other countries), but it's rare to note the plus side. And there is one, isn't there ? After all, if there wasn't, what are we doing here when North Sea pilots bank almost the same after tax etc ?

Yes, Africa has it's problems, but over the years I've met a couple of Americans who were working way past their sell by dates as drilling superintendents etc because they felt safer in Nigeria than places like Houston or Dallas. 10,000 muggings/street thefts a day in London. And a bunch of people who pass each other every day without saying a word.

Nuff said:ok: :ok:

Problems for the new Shell Bonga Field?
 

Tax hike could halt Nigerian oil projects - Shell

Mon March 21, 2005 5:23 PM GMT+02:00
ABUJA (Reuters) - A proposed hike in Nigerian oil taxes could halt new offshore oil projects just as the country is trying to attract new investors, Royal Dutch/Shell said on Monday.

The criticism by the Anglo-Dutch giant, by far the largest investor in Nigeria, is more harsh than previous industry reaction to the proposed measure, which would raise corporate income tax from 50 to 85 percent on multi-billion-dollar deep-water developments and could be applied retroactively.

"Not only would the passage of such a bill imply the government is reneging on existing agreements and eroding trust, but it would also render new projects unsustainable and liable to termination," said Chima Ibeneche, managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co., operator of Shell's deep water projects in the country.

Shell is in the final stages of building a $3.5 billion offshore development at Bonga, where production is set to start mid-year and rise rapidly to 225,000 barrels per day.

Any increase in tax would hit the profitability of such ventures, which would be all the more painful for Shell because Bonga is already two years delayed and 30 percent over budget.

"It is essential that the basis of these investments is not tampered with in any way that will adversely affect the economic returns to investors or the investment climate of the future," Ibeneche said.

Nigerian Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy Edmund Daukoru has said he hopes that the legislation will not affect existing contracts, but the House of Representatives appear to have other ideas.

The proposed bill would have to pass through the Senate before going to President Olusegun Obasanjo for signing into law. Obasanjo could refuse to sign, but the assembly can over-rule him with a two-thirds majority.

The uncertainty over Nigerian oil contracts comes just as the OPEC member nation gears up for a new licensing round including 12 deep water areas to be auctioned by August.

"The proposal would send signals such as would severely jeopardise prospects for future investment in general and stunt if not effectively stall growth in the deep water oil and gas industry at this most critical time," Ibeneche said.

Heliport

I note the thread above my deleted post has removed a surname pretty swiftly- I bet you didn't notice.

Now that was clever- read back through this and other
West African threads and you will uncover peoples surnames,
or abbreviated versions usually by the same guy.

On the pprune edge.......................!!

What's happening with CHC/Aero in Nigeria at the moment? I heard that the pilots and engineers had formed a union.... oops........, an association because they were not happy with the proposed pay changes shortly being introduced by their new masters :oh:

I got offered a job to fly in Escravos on 206s. Can anyone tell me what to expect there? Not sure the pay is right. Was offered four thousand dollars a month. That seems too low but it is tax free if I stay long enough. Good place? The gym recreation setup sounded ok, tennis is good exercise.

BB

Before accepting I suggest you read the recent threads on this Forum and the Africation AviationForum about the recent events in Escravos. Basically, it was over-run by the local villagers and the Pan African pilots and engineers were sheltering in their rooms and the hangar until the military eventually restored order. During the course of the occupation of Escravos several helicopters were damaged by the mob. $4,000 a month sounds pretty pathetic to be living under that sort of threat, whether it's tax-free or not :yuk:

Even with a bit of unrest amongst the staff at Aero (as mentioned in Phone Wind's post) the pay is better than that and the other OLOG company in Nigeria, Bristow, pays a lot more than that.

Phone Wind

The guys in ACN, I am told, set up a website to coordinate and disseminate information concerned with the job and conditions not because they were dissatisfied with anything. I believe that the total package from CHC won't be known until September. The site improves communication, nothing more. There is no union!!

ACN Employee Newsgroup
 

A friend who works for ACN confirmed the existence of a "newsgroup" that provides for effective communication for all levels of staff and it is supported by local management in Nigeria. The benefits are seen as in removing incorrect information being passed around and also creates a formal channel for the transfer of information up and down the chain as well as a way for issues of concern to the group gets passed up and down as appropriate.

Sounds like a good concept to me especially if the local and international management support and participate in the effort.

I wonder if the other Nigerian operators, Bristow and Pan African do the same now?

There is no union...... right :p The news group is just a way for the pilots and engineers to co-ordinate news of what's happening for their association (no, no, not a union, definitely not). It's actually a very good idea because it helps prevent CHC from trying to victimise anyone who disagree with what they may try to introduce in ACN. They originally said that they would let ACN staffs know what would be happening with pay and contracts in May, but maybe the input they now have from the association is forcing them to rethink and delay what they want to do until September.

Cold Filtered, are you in ACN management?

No, but I'm open to offers.

The remaining ex-Maersk Dauphin 365N2 finally departed Port Harcourt on Thursday, en-route to Sudan for the CHC/Schreiner contract there. It's rumored that it was delayed in Lagos by customs, but it should be arriving in Khartoum any day now. I wonder how much it will carry as it was one of the heaviest Dauphins in Nigeria and AGIP were very disappointed when it first arrived to find that it would carry less than an N.
The rumor also has it that by the end of the year the client may need a third Dauphin. Wonder where they'll find all the crews? It's good news for those looking for work as I understand that Schreiner are employing low-time co-pilots on the contract as well :ok:

Cold Filtered,

I see you say you're not in management, but it look as if you're in ACN so maybe you can answer. What's actually the chain of command from CHC now regarding ACN? I heard that all the operations in Africa were under the wing of CHC Africa in SA, but ACN is being treated as a separate case and reports direct to Canada. If that's the case, why is it being treated differently? Just curious/

alghaita

I am told that ACN are now part of CHC Global. 'AG', being kept informed about what goes on in Nigeria doesn't necessarily mean I'm there! Email and the internet are great ways of keeping up-to-date.

CF,

Do you also get your 'Cold Filtered' Star through the internet
;)

What's happening with helicopter operations in Lagos these days? I had a couple of days there this week and Bristow seem very much in evidence with S76s and Super Pumas. When ACN sent their helicopter back a few months ago it was supposed to have been returning, but they don't seem to have anything in Lagos now. The Caverton Agusta was up a couple of times, but I didn't see any sign of the Dauphin they're supposed to have now. Is it still in Lagos or has it gone somewhere else?

I heard about the 'not a union :rolleyes: ' too. I guess things there are not nearly as far gone with ACN as with the OLOG people in the GOM, but I think the ACN people would crumble a lot more quickly because they have too many different factions amongst their pilots and engineers.

THERE IS NO UNION! A couple of expats in PH thought it might be a good idea to set up a group to serve as a central repository for company information. Most of the expats signed up and it's working well by all accounts. Not sure where you got the idea about separate factions. I hear that the pilots and engineers get well together and have the same worries (and hopes) for the future; no problems there!

AG: Star!! I'd sooner drink battery acid.