SIFAX, Bayelsa collaborate for aviation, maritime development of state

Tayo Oladipupo

Bayelsa state government and SIFAX Group are to collaborate on the development of the state’s aviation and maritime potentials.

The agreement was reached after the top management team of the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA) led by Patience Ranami Abah, Director General and Godwin Konyefa, Managing Director, Bayelsa Properties & Investment Company paid a working visit to SIFAX Group.

This is contained in a release made available to our correspondent in Lagos by the Corporate Affairs Manager of SIFAX, Muyiwa Akande.

The statement stated that the team toured facilities of the company’s subsidiaries at Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, SIFAX Off Dock Nigeria Limited and SIFAX Haulage and Logistics Limited.

It stated that Patience Ranami Abah said the aim of the visit was to collaborate with SIFAX Group in the development of the huge business potentials in the state, adding that the SAHCOL’s team had earlier visited the state to inspect its new cargo airport.

“After the visit of SAHCOL team to Bayelsa, we were invited to take a first-hand tour of the facilities of the company. Before the cargo airport begins operations, we wanted to get things right.

With our visit today, we are marvelled at the excellent business operations of the company. We don’t just want to build any kind of warehouse neither indulge in any shady operations of the airport, we want SIFAX Group to come with their technical expertise in the development of Bayelsa State”, she said.

On his own part, Godwin Konyefa was impressed with the facilities and operations of SIFAX Group and commended the company for its level of investment and expertise, which he said, would be beneficial to Bayelsa state.

He said: “After the tour of SAHCOL, we found out that the right partner we have been looking for is SIFAX Group.

They have all it takes to develop the newly-built Bayelsa Airport. We also want to engage them in the development of the deep seaport located in Agge. The seaport with a natural draft of 13 meters is aimed at boosting the business activities of the state.”

“After touring the facilities we are challenged at the home-grown logistics solutions that SIFAX Group has in its arsenal. We are engaging the company in varied business options that will be mutually benefitting to both the government and the company”.

Barrister Ezekiel Ajewole, Executive Director and Senior Special Assistant to Dr. Taiwo Afolabi (MON), Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group thanked the team for deeming it fit to choose SIFAX Group as a business partner in the development plan of the state. He assured that the company’s business model and vision are well aligned with that of the state and noted that the people of Bayelsa will be happy to have SIFAX Group on board.

Mr. Mike Owope, Executive Director, Finance, explained that SIFAX Group had the wherewithal to boost the development of Bayelsa with innovative business solutions tailored towards the development of the state.