Leaders in Nigerias oil and gas sectors have spoken out on the importance of workplace safety in the countrys hydrocarbon operations
A seminar was hosted in Lagos by OPITO, an international skills organisation for the oil and gas industry with the aim of making Nigerian energy operations safer. More than 70 delegates heard from a range of speakers on issues such as worker training and applying OPITO's global standards to their operations. Oil and gas training providers received information on how to train workers in basic offshore safety and emergency training and the International Minimum Safety Training standard, as used by major operators across 45 countries.
"There is an increasing awareness in Nigeria of the value of ensuring the competency of the offshore workforce and the benefits of improving the levels of safety for every individual," said David Doig, OPITO's group chief executive. He added that the event covered the importance of standardising training across the whole industry and how employing successful competency management systems helps to maintain and improve skills, drive efficiencies and lead to wider economic benefits.
Speakers included Onyebuchi C. Sibeudu, head of safety and environment at the Department of Petroleum Resources; Arc Mohammed Dewu from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund; Dr Musa Rabiu from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company; and Amadi Amadi, safety and environment technical manager for Shell Nigeria.
