DPR Shuts Down Opeans Nigeria Limited’s Offshore Safety Training Centres In Warri, Port Harcourt

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has shut down Offshore Safety Training Centers in Warri and Port Harcourt operated by Opeans Nigeria Limited. Opeans Nigeria Limited operates two Offshore Safety and Emergency Training Centers in Warri and Port Harcourt.

It was gathered that the shut down of the two centers operated by Opeans Nigeria Limited was due to the failure of the Company to meet the DPR requirement for operating such Offshore Safety and Emergency Response training centres in Nigeria. Opeans Nigeria Limited conducts courses like the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET), Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET) e.t.c at the training centres in Warri and Port Harcourt.

Findings showed that DPR in an official letter addressed to the Managing Director of Opeans Nigeria Limited stated that the Offshore Safety Training Centres operated by the Company (Opeans Nigeria Limited) in Warri, Delta State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State does not comply with the DPR Guideline and Procedure for Travel to Offshore/Swamp Location and Obtainment of Offshore Safety Permit.

The DPR Guideline and Procedure for Travel to Offshore/Swamp Location and Obtainment of Offshore Safety Permit, which took effect in June 2019 stated clearly the mandatory requirements that Operators of Offshore Safety and Emergency Response Training Centres must strictly adhere.

The Director/CEO, Engr. Sarki Auwalu had previously stated during a webinar session with the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), that the DPR is passionate about entrenching competence and capacity in the Oil and Gas training space, saying it was being cautious in granting of permits to training organisations to checkmate quackery. Auwalu, further stated that “we are trying to check quackery”.

A check on the DPR website https://www.dpr.gov.ng/offshore-training-centres/ showed that Opeans Nigeria Limited accreditation expired 11th of May, 2020.

It would be recalled that the Delta State Government had in July 2020, shut down Opeans Nigeria Limited owned Offshore Safety Training in Warri for failure to produce its accreditations to operate in the State, stating that the State government has no place for quackery.

When Contacted on Phone on Monday, the Warri Comptroller of DPR, Antai Asoquo confirmed the report to our correspondent.

He said, “I act in Warri. I am not in Port Harcourt, so I can only speak for Warri.

“We went there (Opeans Nigeria Limited Offshore Training Centre in Warri) for accreditation and they did not meet our requirements. So the DPR has not given them permit to operate in Warri.”