By Ovie Okpare
One of Nigeria’s leading safety training companies, Opeans Nigeria Limited operator of Opeans Safety Training Centres, Opete near Warri and Port Harcourt in Delta and Rivers States, says the company would not relent in providing world-class safety training for the nation’s oil and gas industry.
Executive Director of Opeans Nigeria Limited (ONL), Dr. Ben Nwoye, stated this on Wednesday while conducting journalists round facilities at the Warri Opeans Safety Training Centre located in Opete community in Udu Local Government Area of the state.
Nwoye also dismissed allegation that the firm was facing criminal investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged petition that the firm was conducting training that was not approved at the Warri centre.
He told newsmen that the company’s excellence performance in safety training over the years has resulted in its expansion to Opete near Warri in Delta State even when many oil servicing companies were folding up during the heat of militancy in the region.
The Opeans Safety Training boss posited that to make the company the leading safety centre in the country particularly for the oil and gas company, it would soon be commencing operation in Akwa Ibom State.
“Opeans Safety Training has been operating since 1982 and we have not lost a soul. That’s not cheer luck alone but deliberate commitment to provide the best safety training in the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry which we have earned our name as the leading safety company.
“We aimed to continue to provide the best safety training for all at risk especially men and women in the oil and gas industry including the Nigerian military and other relevant government agencies. Our goal is to expand our frontiers further. We are building our next safety centre in Akwa Ibom very close to Mobil.
“Opeans Safety centre in Warri is trusted by the NPPC, Nigerian army, Nigerian navy and other major multinationals operating in this country. Our world-class training standard has made us a toast of critical stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. This is the best place to have your offshore training and beyond. People visit here from Sokoto, Katsina, Kano and all over the nation; and that’s because we offer excellence safety training.”
Nwoye answering questions from newsmen called on the Federal Government and International Oil Companies operating to encourage safety training firms in the country by discouraging out-sourcing training abroad which can be provided in the country.
“The FG should know that we investing a lot and those investments need to be encouraged. Aside providing security and infrastructure, the FG and IOCs should look toward us and stop out-sourcing trainings that can be provided by our world-class safety centres outside the country. We have the human and technological resources to provide best training in the oil and gas.
“We are contributing significantly to the economy of the local community, Delta State and Niger Delta region. We came to Warri when many companies were leaving because of militancy and kidnapping. Today, we are rewriting history for betterment of our people”, He further stated.
