From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Federal Government on Monday, said it had shut down the diving operations of Scorpion Oil Services onboard MV African Installer offshore Lagos for operating without requisite approvals and violating the provisions of the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018. 

This was contained in a statement issued Monday by Olajide Oshundun, Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

According to the statement, a monitoring exercise conducted by the ministry, revealed that the diving operations being carried out by the contractor, Scorpion Oil Services, posed huge threats to the divers. It  said an on-the-spot assessment also revealed that the company was using inappropriate equipment and unqualified personnel. Scorpion Oil Services was further said  to have disregarded the Local Content law, with its operations wholly dominated by foreigners.

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“The operators did not comply with the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018. The Regulations stipulate that before any diving operation commences within the Nigerian territorial waters, there must be an authorisation approval issued by the Director of Factories of the Federation.

“Additionally, the Local Content law says Nigerians should be considered first for such operations, but the operators did not meet that requirement, as the place was filled with expatriates.

“Diving operations must get authorisation approval before commencement, and this company has not requested for any approval and does not have one.