The Federal Government sounded the alarm on a rise in fatal accidents and deaths involving drivers of petrol stations, depots and tankers. They stated that about 633 lives were claimed in less than four years. Furthermore, they made vows to sanction culpable oil marketers operating in the downstream sector for poor safety and environmental management.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority made this pledge at a meeting with petroleum product transporters and retailers in Abuja. They indicated that a total of 633 fatalities were recorded in the downstream oil sector in 2018, 2021 and 2022 to date.
The presentation did not include figures for 2019 and 2020. However, it was noted that deaths were caused by 388 incidents. The NMDPRA stated that the downstream sector saw 412 deaths from 244 incidents in 2018. However, 173 deaths were caused by 103 incidents in 2021. 48 fatalities were also recorded from 41 incidents from 2022 to date.
Condemning the development, the North-Central Regional Coordinator, NMDPRA, Maijiddah Abdulkadir, said the authority would recommence the HSE technical audits.
The outcome of this would be used in liaison with other directorates, in the issuance of various licences.
“The HSE technical audit will evaluate the adequacy of the HSE requirements, competency and training of staff engaged by the operators.
“This will no longer be business as usual, it is now safety first, the NMDPRA would ensure that the aspirations of the Federal Government by passing the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act) is achieved.
“The law has provided in clear terms that in the case of negligence by any operator, the such operator would be sanctioned accordingly,” she stated.
Abdulkadir stated that the aim of the government was not to sanction operators. It is to ensure that operations were run in a safe manner to protect people, assets and the environment. Furthermore, this was the reason for the engagement with oil marketers and transporters.
“HSE needs to be on the front burner to attract growth to the business, reduce insurance premiums and protect the public, which you are a member of. And for us to achieve the following, we must reawaken the safety consciousness in our operations,” she told the marketers and fuel transporters.
Abdulkadir explained that the purpose of the discussion on HSE was to call for sound management of HSE. Especially in the transportation of petroleum product operations in the downstream sector.
“This, of course, is key for adequate profitability in the sector. The proper approach to achieve this lies on the fact that HSE should be managed from a business perspective and not for compliance purposes only.
“This is to say that HSE-related matters should be integrated into the management decision-making process. The NMDPRA will always want to engage operators on the need to fully comply with relevant HSE laws and regulations as stipulated in the PIA,” she stated.
The NMDPRA official said the authority was engaging operators to forestall the dangers/risks posed by unwholesome practices and noncompliance to statutory provisions. This is with respect to HSE in the transportation of petroleum products including gas.
“The engagement is to also create awareness and a culture of safe operations to protect persons, assets, and the environment, thereby eliminating accidents, and the cost of replacing damaged parts and this is the sure way to profitability,” Abdulkadir stated.
cc: Punch Ng
