Against a backdrop of national infrastructure deficits and funding shortages, Setraco Nigeria has remained a household name in the country for over 30 years. Executive Director, Ignatius Aigbokhaode, explains how the company’s bridge-building and road construction capabilities have contributed to its lasting success.
BRIDGING FOR THE FUTURE
From its humble beginnings as a small construction company in 1977, concerned with the rehabilitation of rural roads in Nigeria, Setraco Nigeria (Setraco) has emerged as a considerable behemoth of the country’s civil engineering industry, specialising in road, bridge, and real estate development, as well as flood control and infrastructure management.
Catering for a range of clients, from the federal government of Nigeria to various state governments, international oil companies, and other private corporate organisations, Setraco boasts manifold capabilities, including state-of-the-art bridge-building technologies.
“We combine modern technology with our years of experience to take on the most challenging bridge projects, spanning the country’s major rivers in the savannah grassland, rain forest, and swamps, linking people together,” opines Ignatius Aigbokhaode, Executive Director of Setraco.
The company can also be considered an expert in road construction, especially when providing non-conventional geotechnical solutions.
“Our experts are able to stabilise the earth and consolidate the clay prior to the laying of road pavement layers by implementing sand pile grids or prefabricated vertical drains,” Aigbokhaode informs.
Having faced various challenges over the years, such as Nigeria’s considerable infrastructure deficit and funding shortages, Setraco has expertly traversed obstacles to remain a trusted supplier to the country’s wider construction industry.
“Whilst the company has so far been unable to expand its operations into other African nations, it has been able to navigate its way around manifold challenges within Nigeria, which increases our competitive edge,” he comments.
Thus, Setraco remains a major player in building Nigeria’s civil infrastructure and hopes to continue to implement its vision of supplying reliable and sustainable construction solutions across the country for years to come.
POWERFUL PROJECTS
Due to its vast experience as a trusted civil engineering company, Setraco has been awarded multiple contracts, many of which occur within well-known sites across Nigeria.
From the dualisation of the East-West Road cutting through Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States; Section II of the Kano-Maidugri Road in Jigawa State; and Section II and Subsection I of the East-West Road in Rivers State, to the construction of the Ikom Bridge in Cross River State and the Ojobo Bridges in Delta State, the company has demonstrated its competence.
“We pride ourselves on using the highest quality materials and cutting-edge technology in the execution of all our projects to ensure the best outcome,” comments Aigbokhaode.
In addition, owing to its distinguished reputation, Setraco is working on a number of ongoing projects, which promise to further the company’s national reach.
“The dualisation of the Zaria-Funtua-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto States; Section II of the Shema-Tsafe-Gusau Road; the dualisation of major roads in River and Bayelsa States; and the rehabilitation of roads in Cross River, Kaduna, and Plateau States are just a few of our recent projects,” he informs us.
The company is also overseeing the construction of the Baro Bridge in Niger State, the construction of the Southern Parkway between Christian Centre S8/9 and Ring Road I (RRI) in Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the construction of various bridges across Delta and Bayelsa States.
“For many years, we’ve been building bridges of all types and lengths to best suit the site conditions, client budget, and the surrounding environment,” expands Aigbokhaode.
To achieve its state-of-the-art outcomes, Setraco relies on a diverse and trustworthy team of over 4,000 staff, many of whom hail from across the globe.
“The quality of human resources at any organisation determines the attitude and the altitude of its output,” Aigbokhaode enthuses.
To this end, the company places high value on training and retraining its staff, as well as employee well-being, with the ultimate goal of retaining highly motivated personnel guided by professionalism and high ethical standards.
“We pride ourselves on using the highest quality materials and cutting-edge technology in the execution of all our projects to ensure the best outcome”
Ignatius Aigbokhaode, Executive Director, Setraco Nigeria
SUPPLY CHAIN
In terms of procurement, Setraco sources its assets from global partners who comply with both local and international importation laws.
“We work with a diverse range of supply chain members who have undergone a stringent selection process,” Aigbokhaode reveals.
Having established suitable partners, Setraco works to ensure that each of them is able to align with the company’s policy of enhancing its core competencies, geared towards delivering a superior service to its clients.
“In line with the Setraco brand mantra ‘bridging for the future’, we have developed a supply chain that has the capacity to deliver high-quality products and services efficiently and effectively.”
Over the years, the company has assembled a comprehensive list of high-performing supply chain partners, which it significantly values and intends to continue working with far into the future.
“We rely on our supply chain partners and, together with them, we’re able to create successful teams with shared values and professionalism,” Aigbokhaode states.
Setraco always welcomes new partners who meet its high standards and are able to provide the skill sets and innovation to support the growing brand.
“For companies that desire to work with us, the same high standards which we’ve applied to our existing supply chain are extended,” he outlines.
“The company seeks to develop highly productive staff that are motivated to deliver superior performance at all times”
Ignatius Aigbokhaode, Executive Director, Setraco Nigeria
FUTURE PLANNING
As Setraco anticipates a year of prosperity and growth in 2024, it looks forward to innovative developments and unveiling new facilities.
“We have a strategic business unit soon to be unveiled that will focus on real estate development and hospitality,” reveals Aigbokhaode.
The new unit’s first project is the development of the Cedars Setraco Life Camp, a 5-star complex that will house diplomats and expatriates. It is currently in the final phase of completion.
In addition, the company is looking to diversify its offering in the coming years by investing in the oil and gas sector and overseeing civil works for international oil corporations.
“We have the existing building capacity to undertake turnkey projects in the oil and gas industry in the medium term, whilst we seek other opportunities and ventures in the longer term,” he concludes.
SETRACO NIGERIA PARTNER
