Nigeria’s commercial diving industry is pushing for a stronger place within the global offshore training and certification system.
This aspiration gained momentum in Lagos on Thursday as the International Marine Contractors Association, IMCA led by its Chief Executive Officer, Iain Grainger, met regulators, operators, training institutions and other stakeholders to examine training, safety, competence and international recognition.
For Nigeria’s commercial diving industry, the conversation is moving from capacity to recognition.
Nigeria already has divers, contractors, training institutions and decades of offshore experience but stakeholders say stronger alignment with internationally recognised training and certification standards remains critical to expanding indigenous participation in the global offshore market.
The visit of IMCA’s leadership to Lagos brought that conversation directly to the table. With that commitment from IMCA, Nigeria’s Chief Inspector of Diving, Julius Ugwala clears the air on whether Nigerian diving schools that meet the required benchmarks be provided a pathway towards international recognition.
The diving industry in Nigeria says it is not asking for lower standards. Stakeholders want Nigerian institutions assessed on training systems, instructors, equipment, safety procedures, competence assessment and quality assurance - the same fundamentals that underpin credible commercial diving operations globally.
For the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, worker safety remains central to that process. Commercial diving is one of the most specialised occupations in the offshore industry, placing divers in demanding underwater environments where competence and safety systems are non-negotiable. Beyond regulation and certification is another issue - investment.
Representing the Senate President, Senator Gbenga Daniel said the National Assembly was interested in creating an environment in which the sector and its investors can thrive. Industry stakeholders also want Nigeria to convert its existing expertise into a stronger indigenous capability.
Retired Rear Admiral Joseph Ake says the country already has a foundation on which to build. For IMCA, however, the Nigerian conversation forms part of a wider African engagement. The association says stronger collaboration with operators, professional bodies and training institutions across the continent will be essential to developing sustainable offshore capacity. Nigeria is already one of Africa’s leading offshore oil and gas markets, with continuing demand for underwater inspection, construction, maintenance and repair.
The challenge now is to ensure that the people who perform that work and the institutions that train them - can compete confidently against global benchmarks. For Nigeria’s diving industry, the IMCA visit may therefore represent more than an industry engagement. It could mark the beginning of a clearer pathway from local capacity to global recognition.
Complied by Ezinne Azunna for Maritime TV Africa
