THE Federal Government has shut down Scorpion Oil Services for carrying out offshore operations without approval and also violating the provisions of the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.
The company was also closed for non-compliance with the diving regulations. According to a statement by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Director of Factories of the Federation, Lauretta Adogu and the Chief Inspector of Diving, Julius Ugwala, disclose that a monitoring exercise was conducted; which was meant to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s Factories Regulations, 2018.
Adogu said the diving operations carried out by the contractor of Scorpion Oil posed a huge threat; to divers because they were using inappropriate equipment and unqualified personnel.
The statement read in part, “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 authorization 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.