By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has reiterated its plans to collaborate with relevant stakeholders including the Federal Fire Service and others in order to ensure the safety of all petroleum facilities in the downstream sector.
The Chairman of MOMAN’s Health, Safety Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) committee, Mr. Gabriel Orupke, revealed this during the quarterly Cluster Joint Safety Drills in Lagos.
He said that the collaborations include the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Orupke stated that the emergency drill exercise is conducted regularly in order to ensure the safety of personnel, equipment, and the community around Apapa, which hosts many depots and terminals.
According to him, MOMAN has divided the Apapa hub into four clusters for quarterly Cluster Joint Safety Drills. Cluster 3, comprising TotalEnergies, HOGL, NRL(OVH), JV, and NPSC LPG depots, all located along Kayode Street, Marine Beach Apapa, conducted a Joint Safety Drill exercise 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 emphasized the need for collaboration in order to reduce the congestion on Kayode Street caused by trucks parked in multiple lanes, thereby obstructing road access. He said that the plan is to involve all stakeholders in the effort to achieve it.
The Chairman of MOMAN’s HSEQ Committee also mentioned that the Association is working on securing nearby parking spaces for trucks and implementing a call-up system to load trucks in an orderly fashion, thereby reducing on-road parking.
He added that the objectives of this exercise are to uphold safety regulations at all times, given the highly flammable nature of the oil business, to ensure an adequate number of trained personnel and firefighting equipment, and to evacuate congested trucks in order to allow firefighting vehicles swift access in case of an emergency.
Orukpe noted that the drill also aims at reassuring residents of the community that MOMAN members have the capacity in terms of personnel and equipment, in collaboration with other non-members, to swiftly respond to any emergencies that may arise.
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.
In his own words, “It is worth noting that there are four clusters around Apapa, and drill exercises are conducted quarterly. Cluster 1 comprises Apapa Jetty, ASPM, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, NIPCO Plc, and AITEO depots. We conducted the Q1 Joint Drill in March 2023. Cluster 2 comprises CONOIL Plc, Ardova Plc, and NNS Beecroft and was conducted in 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. The scenario emulated was a truck collision leading to a spill and fire incident. The response time and joint efforts by neighboring stakeholders with mutual assistance to control the fire and spill were tested.”
The Head of Supply HSEQ & Technical, MOMAN, Mr. Godwin Jarikre, 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.
The Southwest Regional Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr. Ayorinde Cardoso, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Ibrahim Dimowo, with the Head of Storage Infrastructure, Lagos, Mr. Oluwakayode Oyegoke, and his team, shared the same view regarding the objectives of the emergency drill.
He was impressed by the practical demonstration of equipment and the efficiency and competence of the personnel involved. The regulator commended MOMAN for organizing these exercises and showcasing their safety preparedness in their operational environments.
The Federal Fire Service personnel stated that they were impressed and also pledged their support whenever their services were required.