Nigeria’s Safety Training Centre (OPEANS Nigeria Limited ONL) located in Port Harcourt has received one of the highest global certifications in the oil and gas industry from the American Petroleum Institute (API).
The company, with ultra-modern state-of-the-art facilities, provides an extensive range of offshore/onshore specialist manpower skills and safety training to enhance the strength/skills of individuals to perform optimally.
Reacting to the development in Enugu, the Executive Director of OPEANS, Ben Nwoye said the company will continue to make international best practices since the standard is the watchword of the company.
According to him, “Despite all odds, including calculated attempts by fellow competitors in the business to pull down the organisation through blackmail, frivolous allegations, God has been faithful to the company.”
According to Nwoye, who also is the commissioner representing South East in the Federal Consumer Competition Protection Commission (FCCPC), “We are indeed grateful to God for the tremendous feat we have recorded in OPEANS since inception. It’s neither by our power nor might, but just by His grace.
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“Though, it has not been a bed of Roses keeping the company running, but we are glad that OPEANS is progressing on daily basis. We have remained in business since inception till date, and adding more facilities to boost the centre.”
He further said: “The API certification is a serious encouragement to us, and we are not going to take it for granted. We will keep upgrading our facilities in line with global standard. Our state of the art lodging facility is near completion.”
Nwoye reiterated that the company was fully authorised and certified for operations by the regulatory body.
He however, commended the federal and Delta state governments for providing the enabling environment for operators in the state to operate and appealed to government to patronise indigenous offshore centers as OPEANS in the country.
The certification document for both the Port Harcourt and Warri offices of the firm was signed by Dianna Braud, Director Training and operations of Veriforce, LLC, a company empowered by API to carry out the training of trainers, inspection of Training Centre and certification of Training Centres.
Following the API certification, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has also presented to the company the Safety and Emergency Response training Centre Accreditation.
The document was signed by a principal officer in the Commission, Mohammed I .Z, read thus: “This accreditation is hereby issued pursuant to the provision of Mineral oil Safety Regulations 1997 to OPEANS Safety Training Centre. In respect of Safety Training facility located at No 34, Opete Road, off Otokutu junction, Udu local government area Warri, Delta State.”
