Unsafe oil practices endangering Nigerian lives

• Warns frequent policy changes scaring investors

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has raised the alarm over persistent unsafe practices in oil installations, warning that operators cutting corners are endangering the lives of workers.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS) in Abuja, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, decried the disturbing practices in some offshore fields, where human beings were seen using ropes to offload materials from boats, instead of cranes.

“This is happening in some of the oil and gas installations in Nigeria. Just imagine the cost to human lives. If any of them falls into the waterway, they are gone. Life is truly precious,” Osifo said.

He recalled the Thursday, October 24, 2024, helicopter crash around Bonny, which killed three members of the union, stressing that safety in the sector must never be compromised.

“The true measure of stewardship is ensuring every worker returns home safely. Unsafe conditions must never be the price of resilience,” he declared.

The labour leader also warned against incessant policy changes in the sector, particularly recent amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which he said have unsettled investors.

According to him, “Policy somersault and frequent changes to laws do not aid stability. At best, it is a disincentive to investment.”

On environmental and governance issues, the PENGASSAN boss said gas flaring must end and polluted sites restored, adding that global financial institutions now demand strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance from oil firms.

In his remarks, Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, pledged the government’s commitment to workers’ safety, decent wages, and skills development.

Dingyadi assured that the government would work closely with unions and regulators to raise health, safety, and environment standards.

“We all know that health and safety are non-negotiable pillars of any resilient energy system. Therefore, advancing our HSE standards is not optional. The cost of negligence is far greater than the investment in prevention,” the minister said.