Posted By John Watson B Smart Nigeria is a very dangerous place to work currently. Whilst we consider work in that area you need to make sure that the security your employer engages is absolutely watertight, secure compounds, escorted too and from airports etc. Kidnappings are rife. Please be careful and good luck. Regards John

Posted By johnny Hello, I am also going to Nigeria in a few weeks to review both our security and H&S management. Who are you working for out there and what project?

Posted By johnny Hi Rob, Thanks for all the info. I also have to review our currnet security measures. To be honest i dont think we have anything in place apart from a few locals who pick us up from the airports and escort us from site to office etc. If you have any info on security management for Nigeria - main risks, controls etc or what your company have that would be great as im not too sure where to start. I am not going offshore as we only supply the engineers but obviously i want to implement a great security/H&S Management system. All your help is greatly appreeciated. Thanks

Posted By RBW100 Johnny, I worked in nigeria for around 6 month, but it was back in 2002. I was not working for the oil compaines by was a project engineer for PZ Cussons (the imperial leather soap people) who have a large presence in Nigeria. I was based in Ikorodu, about an hours drive from lagos. PZ's approach was to avoid the use of armed guards. Most weekends we went into Lagos in the late afternoon and arrived back at the compound (in Ikorodu) in the early hours. We used oldish peugeots with local drivers, but had no security with us. We sometimes went in groups of up to 6 other times I went on my own. It was the view of most expats at the time that the best approach to security was on of keep a low profile. This was in direct contrast to the Americans, who drove around in massive 4x4's with armed guards. I guess the fact I didn't work in oil was a bonus too. As for factory/site safety the standard was poor when compared with UK operations. Factories act 1961 sounds about right. Enjoy you stay

Posted By David McGuire Have emailed you some travel advice for Nigeria

Posted By stella HI B Smart, Just read ur mail and i hope u get to read this. I presume that u have started work in Nigeria. I am a nigerian and currently studying for an msc in occupational health and safety at the University of wales institute cardiff (uwic). Presently, i am working on my dissertation which is " the critical analysis of offshore safety regulations in the nigerian oil and gas industry ". Currently, i am back in Nigeria to collect relevant data as well as job hunt. will be glad if u could provide me with relevant and helpful info. will be glad if u cld be of help on both counts. Thanks, Bimbo

Posted By Emamode Glen, Its suprising how people like you would run a country that has provided jobs for millions of UK & US citizens so down. Let us for once been sincere, the aircraft used for local travels are not what you described. They are pretty new aircrafts operated by companies with technical partners from UK & US. The incident of kidnaping is not as rife as it is described here. Except for Port Harcourt and perhaps Bayelsa, all other states in Nigeria are safe. Experts move freely without the slightest fear. A British colleague who joined our company recently from the UK was shocked at the relative peace in the Delta compared with the hype in the news back home in the UK. I am sure that if Nigeria is so dangerous as is being discribed here, legions of expats will not be trooping into the country daily in search of jobs. Regards, Don

Posted By Les Welling Sorry. Should have said he had no problems with security.

Posted By Rob T There is some extremely dangerous and negligent information now coming on this chat room!!! Port Harcourt is NOT safe by any means. 240 people were kidnapped in the general Delta area last year and more than 40 people were killed. Piracy has increased particularly around Bonny and expat travel on the Bonny river has been banned by not only the reputable companies but also because insurance cover has been pulled! I am absolutely appalled by the suggestions that these areas are safe. Take a look at the travel websites of these Governments, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France and Holland and then ask yourselves why they ALL say that the Delta, both on and off-shore are "no-go" at the moment. I come from the Millwall/New Cross/Deptford area of South London but I wouldn't hesitate to say keep away from some of these areas particularly at night if you're not a local. Just because you come from a particular place don't give potentially lethal advice to others because of some form of perceived affront to your nationhood! And yes I am going back to Port Harcourt tomorrow - to a reasonably secure expat camp that is running at 15% capacity due to almost every expat leaving the area over the last 6 months. Any travel outside the camp is in 3 car convoys (low key) but with fully armed police (MoPols) in the front and rear. I (personal view - not a recommendation) am still happy to use the three internal airlines that I earlier mentioned though.

Posted By oluwole, thompson, olugbenga Well I beleive if is as bad as you described it, you won't be coming back to Portharcourt tomorrow. All you are trying to do is prevent other people from coming here whilst you are doing your good business here. Compared with any place I still emphasized that this place is the best place to work in. We still have alot of foreign workers coming in here and their lives are secured. I work in a reputable Oil company here in Portharcourt and I know what am saying, there is no country that doesn't have is own ills. All I will advise is while you are here live responsibly and mind your business and it shall be well with you.

Posted By Ogo A Information about the oil and gas legislations in nigeria can be found on the department of petroleum resources website http://www.dprnigeria.com/home.html some very useful information and contact also from the Nigerian Safety professional body on http://www.nispnigeria.com/ Environment related information from Federal Protection Environment Agency Act (follow this link) http://www.nigeria-law.o...20Protection%20Agency%20(Amendment)%20Decree%20No.%2059%201992.htm I hope this helps.