Mr Gabriel Orupke, Chairman, MOMAN’s Health, Safety
Environment and Quality (HSEQ) committee,
said this on Wednesday during the quarterly Cluster Joint Safety Drills
in Lagos.
He said the collaboration also includes the National Oil
Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Lagos State Ministry of Energy
and Mineral Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum
Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Orukpe said that the emergency drill exercise was conducted
regularly to ensure the safety of personnel, equipment, and the community
around Apapa, which hosts many depots and terminals.
He said that MOMAN had divided the Apapa hub into four
clusters for quarterly Cluster Joint Safety Drills.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cluster 3,
comprising TotalEnergies, HOGL, NRL(OVH), JV, and NPSC LPG depots, all located
along Kayode Street, Marine Beach Apapa, conducted the Joint Safety Drill for
Q3 at TotalEnergies Terminal 1.
The firefighting equipment was deployed by TotalEnergies, 11
PLC, NIPCO Plc, AITEO NNPC Retail, and NPSC Gas terminals.
Orukpe emphasised the need for collaboration to alleviate
congestion on Kayode Street caused by trucks parked in multiple lanes,
obstructing road access.
According yo him, the plan is to involve all stakeholders in
this effort.
He also said that
MOMAN was working on securing nearby parking spaces for trucks, implementing a
call-up system to load trucks in an orderly fashion and reducing on-road
parking.
He said that the objectives of this exercise was to uphold safety regulations at all times,
given the highly flammable nature of the oil business, ensure an adequate
number of trained personnel and firefighting equipment.
He said also to evacuate congested trucks to allow
firefighting vehicles swift access in case of an emergency.
He added that the drill also aims to reassure residents of
the community that MOMAN members had the
capacity in terms of personnel and equipment,in collaboration with other
non-members, to swiftly respond to any emergency situations.
He called for the cooperation of the Nigeria Union of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the local government, and depots in
the area in making safety measures an all-inclusive responsibility.
“It is worth noting that there are four clusters around
Apapa, and drill exercises are conducted quarterly. Cluster 1, which comprises
Apapa Jetty, ASPM, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, NIPCO Plc, and AITEO depots.
“We conducted the Q1 Joint Drill in March 2023. Cluster 2
(CONOIL Plc, Ardova Plc, and NNS Beecroft) is for Q2.
“The one held at TotalEnergies today was the third, with the
fourth planned to take place at Mobil Road, Marine Beach before the year ends,”
he said.
Orukpe said: “The scenario simulated was a truck collision
leading to a spill and fire incident.
“The response time and joint efforts by neighbouring
stakeholders with mutual assistance to control the fire and spill were tested,”
he added.
Mr. Godwin Jarikre,the Head of Supply, HSEQ & Technical,
MOMAN, and his team who coordinated the event, expressed satisfaction with the
participants’ performance as the aim was achieved.
He noted the importance of equipment deployment and workers’
response to the alarm by swift mustering at the assembly point as very critical
safety measures in ensuring that no one is left unevacuated during emergencies.
Also, Mr Ayorinde Cardoso, the Southwest Regional
Coordinator of NMDPRA, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Ibrahim
Dimowo, in company with the Head of Storage Infrastructure,
Lagos, Mr Oluwakayode Oyegoke, and his team, in his remarks,
shared the same view regarding the objectives of the emergency drill.
He said he was impressed by the practical demonstration of
equipment and the efficiency and competence of the personnel involved.
He commended MOMAN for organising the exercises and showcasing
safety preparedness in its operational environments.
“The Federal Fire Service personnel were impressed and
pledged their support whenever their services were needed.
Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Intelligence at
Tego Barracks Apapa, Brig.-Gen. K. N. Nwoko, expressed his displeasure with
trucks indiscriminately parked along the road, given the area’s sensitivity to
potential fire incidents due to the activities.
Nwoko warned that such actions would no longer be tolerated,
and his men would impound any trucks found parked on the road.
He emphasised the importance of the many offices and
establishments in the area, including the Intelligence School with over 200
students and valuable documents that must be protected from potential fires,
especially those caused by the illegal siphoning of petroleum products from
trucks parked on the road.
He promised that his men and other security agencies would
put an end to such activities.
The relevant government agencies who participated include
NMDPRA, Federal Fire Service, NOSDRA, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy (NNS
Beecroft), and the police.
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