NUPRC boss canvasses preparedness against national disasters

Forum 9 months ago

NUPRC boss canvasses preparedness against national disasters

The Chief Executive of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, has advocated adequate preparation against national disasters, including massive floods, to reduce impacts and damages in terms of loss of lives and property.

Recall that the country is anticipating catastrophic flood disasters across many states this year, following the Nigeria Meteorological Agency’s forecasts for 2023.

Komolafe spoke at the sidelines of the Nigeria Special Annual QHSSE and Risk Managers Hybrid Congress & 4th Annual Emergency Preparedness Week/Exhibitions of the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Risk Management Institute which began on Wednesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He said the NUPRC had given priority to preparedness for emergency occurrences in the oil and gas industry and had put in place the requisite logistics to handle such emergencies in the sector.

Komolafe, who was represented by the Bayelsa Field Coordinator, NUPRC, Bighoro Sylvester, said, “As it relates to the upstream sector that the commission regulates, we have details of our workers in the offshore, offshore safety permit is available.

“We even have Emergency Response Centre, and we have been doing our best. The commission is fully prepared to handle any emergency that happens within the industry.”

He noted that the Petroleum Industry Act had vested the commission with the responsibility of ensuring necessary regulations for the management of emergencies in the oil and gas industry.

“If you look at the Petroleum Industry Act very well, you will see that we are saddled with the responsibility of evolving regulations to take care of emergencies, the environment and all these are part of our functions”, Komolafe said.

The NUPRC boss also stated that the commission as part of its corporate social responsibility donated relief materials to victims of the monster floods in Bayelsa last year to reduce the suffering of the people.

Speaking on the essence of the institute’s annual emergency forum, Komolafe noted that the imperatives of emergency, crisis, disaster, and risk management require sufficient understanding for the planning and execution of emergency response.