Delta Shuts Opeans Safety Training Centre Over Expired Licence

The Delta State Government has shutdown Opeans Safety Training Centre in Opete, Udu Local Government Area for failure to renew its Department of Petroleum Resources DPR licence for operation.

The closure of the Centre which operates as a training centre 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 Gladys Puergeren directed that all training activities at Opeans Safety Training Centre located at No 34 Opete road off Otokutu junction should seize forthwith after officials of the centre failed to produce their accreditation and licence to back up their claims.

He said their license which is supposed to be renewed yearly by the DPR had expired since May 2020 and failed to renew it hence not accredited to carry out any form of training.

Prince Amgbaduba noted that the Ministry places high premium on safety hence would not compromise standard on its periodic checks on firms that specialise in the training of manpower for the oil and gas industry.

The Oil and Gas Commissioner said the visit was not to witchhunt any firm but to ensure that due process and necessary accreditation and license were acquired before the commencement of training in order to promote safety and standard in the industry.

Prince Amgbaduba 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 on Monday with poof of claims of having up to date licence and accreditation.

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An official of the firm could not provide the DPR licence and other relevant documentation as claimed, adding that the licence and documents were with the Director who was not on seat during the unscheduled visit.

The Commissioner and his team were also at Lym Consult located on the busy Effurun Sapele Benin expressway commended the firm for satisfying all the requirements with the DPR and other certification organisations.

He said he was impressed that the firm had global standard, stressing that certified training was the spring board to achieve safety in the field.

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

The Oil and Gas Commissioner said 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 Consult, Mr Larry Otu commended the Commissioner for the unscheduled visit, saying that it showed government’s commitment at ensuring safety of life and property in the oil and gas industry, adding that it has up to date DPR license and five Opito, an international accreditation organisation.

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