The Federal Government yesterday shut down the diving operations of Scorpion Oil Services on board MV African Installer offshore Lagos for operating without the requisite approvals.
The Director, Factories of the Federation, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs Lauretta Adogu, said this during a monitoring exercise conducted by the ministry and the Chief Inspector of Diving, Julius Ugwala.
Adogu, who is also the Director, Occupational Safety and Health Department, said this in a statement signed by Olajide Oshundun, Head, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry.
The Director said the shutdown had become necessary as they had also violated the provisions of the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.
“The operators did not comply with the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.
“The Regulations stipulate that before any diving operation commences within the Nigerian territorial waters, there must be an authorisation approval issued by the Director of Factories of the Federation.”
The diving operations being carried out by the contractor, Scorpion Oil Services, posed huge threats to the divers, as an on-the-spot assessment revealed that the company was using inappropriate equipment and unqualified personnel.
Adogu explained that the monitoring exercise was aimed at ensuring full compliance with Nigeria’s Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.
She noted that the diving operations being carried out by the contractor, Scorpion Oil Services, posed huge threats to the divers, as an on-the-spot assessment revealed that the company was using inappropriate equipment and unqualified personnel.
Besides, she added that the company disregarded the Local Content Law, with the operations wholly dominated by foreigners.
“Additionally, the Local Content law says Nigerians should be considered first for such operations, but the operators did not meet that requirement, as the place was filled with expatriates,” she said.
She insisted that diving operations must get authorisation approval before commencement, and Scorpion Oil Services has not requested any approval and does not have one.
“The company is being closed for non-compliance to these, and work here has been prohibited,” she said. (NAN)
