Mohammed Shosanya
3 November 2008
Lagos — The Federal Government yesterday condemned oil and gas companies in the country for showing disregard to environmental issues in the nation's oil and gas sector.
The Minister of State for Energy (petroleum) Odien Ajumogobia, said this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)'s 13th Health Safety and Environment (HSE) conference in Abuja.
He said the oil companies are not doing enough to the environment, stressing that continuous flaring of gas has caused climate change in the world, saying oil exploration and production activities is now the topical issue that is taking its toll on the workers health.
He said: "Oil and gas operations from time to time have been characterized by unfortunate but avoidable accidents. Tragically, some of such accidents have resulted in fatalities and debilitating injuries to people who are working in the industries through exposure to risks such as crude and shoot.
"This is not a forum to point at or reveal the HSE practice or performance record of individual operator, it is however an opportunity for all of us in the industry to recommit ourselves to taking the step that would address the lapses in this area."
Speaking on the recent threat by the oil union to embark on industrial action over maltreatment by the oil companies, the Minister said that investigations show that oil companies are not treating their staff in accordance with standard practice, saying adequate steps should be taking to reverse the menace.
He said: "Recent complains of labour organization, NUPENG in particular on behalf of oil workers have highlighted some of these lapses in the area of HSE of oil workers.
"Sometimes, physical challenges which exist in the value-chain in the petroleum industry needs to be taken into account in devising best practices. Companies and operators however, fail to show concern and response to physical injuries which are visible and debilitating, especially those injuries that stop employees from being able to carry out the jobs that are assigned to them."
Assessing the impact of the HSE in the industry, Ajumogobia said, "We can achieve greater heights in HSE performance despite the complexities and the security challenges of doing business in the Niger Delta at this time."
He however enjoined stakeholders to be considerate in their activities in the quest to maintain socio-economic and environmental harmony. He said this is the only avenue by which the stake-holders can cooperate to achieve collective goals in the nation's petroleum industry.
Also speaking at the event, the Acting Director of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Aliyu Sabonbirni, said that due to its difficult terrain of operation using sophisticated technology, oil and gas business in the country needs adequate security to perform its role in the economy.
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