Delta State Govt. shuts OPEAN’S Offshore Safety Training Centre

OTOKUTU, Delta, Nigeria – The Delta State Government has closed down an Offshore Safety Training Centre located at No. 34 Opete Road, Otokutu, Delta State, for failure to possess the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, licence and accreditation to operate.

The Offshore Safety Training Center is operated by Opeans Nigeria Limited. The closure of Opeans’ Offshore Safety Training Centre, which operates for middle and lower manpower for the maritime, Oil and Gas Industry followed an unscheduled visit of the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba, to the premises of the firm.

The Oil and Gas Commissioner, who led top officials of the Ministry, including the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Puegeren, directed that all training activities at Opeans in the state, should seize forthwith, after officials of the centre failed to produce their accreditation and licence to back up their operations.

He said their accreditation, which is supposed to be renewed yearly by the DPR had since expired, adding that they had failed to renew it, hence, they were not accredited to carry out any form of training.

Prince Amgbaduba noted that the Ministry places high premium on safety, hence, would not compromise standards when it comes to periodic checks on firms which specialise in the training of manpower for the Oil and Gas industry.

He said  the visit was not to witch-hunt any firm, but to ensure that due process and necessary accreditation and licences were acquired before commencement of training, in order to promote safety and standards in the Industry.

The Commissioner maintained that the Ministry was complementing the efforts of the DPR and directed the director of the firm to report to the Ministry in Asaba next Monday, with proof of claims of having up-to-date licence and accreditation.

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Officials at the firm could not provide their DPR licence, DPR accreditation for the Center, and other relevant international certification, as required, on the DPR Guideline and Procedure for Travel To Offshore/Swamp Location and Obtainment of Offshore Safety Permit. The company officials claimed that the documentations were with the director, who was not on seat during the unscheduled visit.

The Commissioner and his team were also at Lym Consults Nigeria Limited’s Offshore Safety Training Center, located at Km 10, Sapele-Warri expressway, Otomewo Community near Warri. They commended the firm for satisfying all the requirements with the DPR and other certification organisations.

He said he was impressed that the firm (Lym Consults Nigeria Limited) has global standard and certifications, stressing that certified training was the springboard to achieve safety  in the field.

Prince Amgbaduba emphasised that the Ministry will not allow any firm without appropriate licensing and accreditation to operate in any part of the state, as any firm found wanting will face severe sanction and possible criminal charges.

He stressed that quacks cannot be allowed to train manpower for the Oil and Gas Industry, which is the nation’s mainstay and charged the company to adhere strictly to all COVID-19 protocol in its operations.

The Chief Executive Officer Lym Consults Nigeria Limited, Mr Larry Otu, commended the Commissioner for the unscheduled visit, saying that it showed Government’s commitment to ensuring safety of lives and property in the Oil and Gas Industry

Otu added that Lym had up-to-date DPR license, DPR accreditation and OPITO accreditations for all courses being offered. He further stated that OPITO accreditation for courses like the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Trainings (BOSIET) and others, is a mandatory requirement as stated on the DPR Guideline and Procedure for Travel To Offshore/Swamp Location and Obtainment of Offshore Safety Permit.

He further stated that Lym Consults Nigeria Limited is the only company in Delta State that possess OPITO approval.

Mr Otu, who took the Commissioner and his team on a guided tour of the firm’s premises, promised to train five officials of the Ministry, which Prince Amgbaduba applauded, saying that government was willing to partner with such organisation.

A check by our Correspondent on the DPR website https://www.dpr.gov.ng/offshore-training-centres/, shows that Lym Consults Nigeria Limited, is currently the only Company in Delta State, with a valid DPR accreditation for Offshore safety trainings.