Travels of a CEO: Nigeria

Our Chief Executive Officer, Mike Astell, recently visited colleagues in Nigeria as part of his global engagement plan. It’s important that he sees first-hand what goes on at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ’s (FCDO) diplomatic missions, from the everyday security essentials to special projects that support the UK government ’s foreign policy priorities.??

This time, he got to see one of the amazing projects our team have been working on for the UK Home Office International Operations (HOIO) department who are funding a project, via the UK government’s UK Integrated Security Fund (UKISF), to improve customs and smuggling policing in Lagos.??

We deliver many projects for other UK government partners that align to the FCDO’s priorities.??

Here, we are supporting the Home Office to enhance UK security and address critical global issues, such as combating the illicit drugs trade.??

The Home Office are working with overseas countries with direct drug routes to the UK. They are investing to improve local capabilities to combat the issue before it reaches the UK border.??

Due to our expertise in secure construction overseas, we were tasked to design and manage the construction of a base facility compromising of an office space, accommodation, and storage for the Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Giving the officers of the maritime unit, who risk their lives every day combating the illegal drugs trade, a safe place to work close to the waters they patrol.??

Here you can see Mike discussing the project on site with colleagues who are overseeing the construction phase. FCDO Services has so far provided the design from RIBA stages 1-4, procurement for the works and selected a contractor to undertake the works under our project management.??

The Nigerian Government are extremely grateful for the support given to them to help crack down on the drugs trade, and we are extremely grateful for the hard work and commitment of our colleagues on the project, who make the extraordinary seem ordinary, everyday.??

#FCDOServices #HomeOffice #UKGovernment?

Image description: Two men in hi-vis jackets standing with their backs to the camera looking out over a construction site with people working in the distance.??