The Managing Director of NIPCO PLC, Chief (Dr.) Bestman Anekwe, has reiterated the company's unwavering commitment to health, safety, environment, and quality (HSEQ), describing safety excellence as the bedrock of sustainable operations in the downstream oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the company's annual HSEQ Day, Anekwe emphasized that every employee — from depot operators to retail station staff — has a personal responsibility to uphold the highest safety standards in their daily operations.
"Safety is not negotiable at NIPCO. It is our key priority above all else, including production targets. We would rather lose a sale than lose a life. Zero harm to people and the environment is our absolute commitment," the MD declared.
He noted that NIPCO has recorded significant improvements in its safety performance metrics over the past three years, attributing this progress to sustained investment in training, equipment upgrades, and a deliberate culture of safety consciousness across all operations.
The company has been implementing its Safety Management System (SMS) across all its depots, retail stations, and LPG filling plants, with regular safety audits, emergency response drills, and toolbox talks forming part of the daily safety routine for all staff.
"We conduct regular HSEQ audits, drills and training at all levels of our operation. We have invested in state-of-the-art safety equipment and personal protective gear for all our frontline staff. And we are continuously improving our emergency response procedures," Anekwe explained.
The MD also spoke about NIPCO's environmental stewardship, highlighting the company's investments in minimizing its carbon footprint through transition to cleaner energy products including LPG and natural gas, as well as responsible waste management and spill prevention protocols at all depots.
Anekwe called on all staff to become safety ambassadors, not just at the workplace but in their communities as well, noting that NIPCO's reputation is built on trust, and that safety incidents anywhere in its network could undermine the confidence of stakeholders and customers.
"Each one of you is a guardian of the NIPCO brand. When you act safely, you protect yourself, your colleagues, our customers, and the reputation we have worked two decades to build. I count on every one of you to make safety excellence our everyday reality," he concluded.