Julius Berger (company)

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc
Public (NSE: JBERGER)
Industry Construction, Real Estate Development
Founded 1950
Headquarters 10 Shettima A. Munguno Crescent, 900 108 Utako, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Products Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings
Services Design, Fabrication, Erection
Website www.julius-berger.com

Julius Berger is a Nigerian construction company, headquartered in Abuja,[1] with additional permanent locations in Lagos and Uyo.

The company is represented across Nigeria in structural engineering and infrastructure works, and in southern Nigeria through domestic and international oil and gas industry projects. It is known for constructing most of Nigeria's infrastructures, major expressways, and even some residential buildings for the Chevron Nigeria headquarters in Lagos.[2]

The company has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1991. Before this, its parent company was Bilfinger Berger. Bilfinger Berger is still the largest shareholder in the company.[3] The construction business of Julius Berger is the heart of the Julius Berger Group.

With 18,000 employees from close to 40 nations and clients from both Nigeria and the global oil and gas industry, Julius Berger is a leading construction company and one of the largest private employers in Nigeria.

History

Julius Berger's presence in Nigeria dates back to 1965 when the firm won a tender to construct a ₦31.2 million second mainland bridge In Lagos. The project was a significant civil engineering endeavor because it was the first in the country to be built with pre-stressed concrete. The construction of the bridge was designed in phases with the first phase completed in 1969 and last phase completed in 1974. While working on the project, Berger undertook other projects in the country, a municipal water works project in Jos awarded by the government of Benue-Plateau State was the firm's first construction project outside of Lagos State. This project involved building a reservoir to conserve rain water and building a dam, water treatment plant and tanks. The firm's efficiency in building the first phase of Eko bridge made it a top choice to repair the bridge over River Niger which had been damaged during the civil war. This project kept the company busy in Nigeria.[4]

When the war ended, vehicular and shipping traffic in Lagos increased and additional road infrastructure such as Eko bridge did little to ease traffic congestion. To ease traffic congestion, the government awarded Berger additional road construction contracts, the projects and the Niger bridge made viable a permanent establishment in the country. The Lagos State projects included the construction the Lagos - Badagry expressway, Itoikin-Ikorudu-Epe single carriageway, and ring roads and Apapa - Oshodi and Agege Motor Road. Gradually the firm and its blue B logo established a reputation in civil engineering works within the country, this coincided with a period that the federal government focused its attention on developing the country's Trunk A road system. The firm was involved in constructing the 26 mile Lagos to Shagamu portion of Lagos to Ibadan expressway and Jebba road bridge.[5]

Julius Berger was registered in Nigeria prior to building the Jos water works, in 1974 it sold 40% of its equity to Lagos and Benue-Plateau State governments and three years later sold an additional 20% was sold to the public. After a cement armada caused chaos at Apapa port, the company was invited to build a new port at Tin Can Island. In the 1970s and early 1980s, it was involved in the civil works at Aladja and Ajaokuta Steel complexes and the new federal capital territory, Abuja.[5]

Timeline

In 1950, Julius Berger, the founding father of the company met Keith Thomas and incorporated his company in Germany.[6]

In August 1965, the company undertook its first project in Nigeria - the construction of the Eko Bridge in Lagos.

In 1991 the company was floated on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as "Julius Berger Nigeria Plc".

In 2001 the company moved to its new head office in Abuja.

In 2010 Business World Magazine listed Julius Berger Nigeria Plc as Nigeria's leading construction company.

In 2012 Watertown Energy Ltd., a company of the Nestoil Group acquired 10% of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc’s shares, previously owned by Bilfinger Berger GmbH, raising the company’s Nigerian shareholding to 60.1%.

Major Projects

The company built the Eko Bridge completed in 1968, the Third Mainland Bridge completed in 1990 and the Abuja Stadium completed in 2003.[7]

Tin Can Island Port, commissioned in 1977.

Lagos Inner Ring Road, completed in 1979.

Ajaokuta Steel Plant, completed in 1990.

Itakpe – Ajaokuta Ore Railway, completed in 1990.

Abuja International Airport phase II, completed in 1997.

Central Bank of Nigeria Head Office, completed in 2002.

Uyo infrastructure and road works, ongoing since 2008.

First discharge drain built utilizing pipe-jacking technology in Nigeria, completed in 2011.

National Assembly phase III, completed in 2011.

Multiple projects, Escravos GTL plant in southern Nigeria, commissioned in 2012.

Bonny Liquefied Natural Gas facility, multiple ongoing works since 1996.

Challawa Gorge Dam Karaye, completed in 1992

Awarded a contract to construct link roads to second Niger bridge(July 4 2018)

Education

The organization operates German School Abuja, and formerly operated German School Lagos.[8]

REFERENCES

  1. ↑ "Imprint." Julius Berger. Retrieved on May 6, 2017. "Julius Berger Nigeria Plc 10 Shettima A. Munguno Crescent Utako 900 108 | Abuja FCT Nigeria"
  2. ↑ Building Bridges, Crossing Frontiers Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Burgis, Tom (June 8, 2010). "Nigeria cancels $420m runway contract - FT.com". Financial Times. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Nnanna, Ochereome (17 October 2013). "Julius Berger: Lost the magic? - Vanguard News". Vanguard News.
  5. 1 2 Akinsanya, Olu (January 1982). "Julius Berger and Civil Engineering Technology". The People. People's Publication: 15–17.
  6. ↑ Julius Berger History Brochure Archived 2013-08-21 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Julius Berger Fact Booklet Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ "schulprofil_2013.pdf" (Archive). Deutsche Schule Abuja. Retrieved on 19 January 2015.
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