The Federal Government has inaugurated the diving governing board to strengthen enforcement of safety regulations and protect Nigerian workers engaged in hazardous commercial diving operations across the country.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment recently inaugurated the board in Abuja to close regulatory gaps by enforcing stricter compliance with the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.

The move comes amid expanding maritime activities, oil and gas exploration, port development, and underwater engineering projects, which have increased the need to effectively regulate commercial diving and protect workers exposed to potentially fatal occupational hazards.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, who spoke at the inauguration, described the board’s establishment as a significant step toward addressing longstanding safety concerns and ensuring existing regulations translate into effective protection for divers.

He said commercial diving remained one of the most hazardous industrial occupations, with regulatory weaknesses, inadequate standardisation, and unsafe practices putting workers’ lives at risk.

Dingyadi said the expansion of Nigeria’s maritime and offshore industries had made the safety and welfare of commercial divers a national priority, stressing that regulations alone were insufficient without an institution capable of enforcing them.

He charged the board to ensure that diving projects did not commence without the necessary medical fitness certification, approved operational plans and competent personnel.

The minister also urged members to work with recognised training institutions, including the Nigerian Navy Diving School and accredited civilian centres, to establish transparent certification pathways for commercial divers.

He said the initiative would reduce reliance on unverified foreign credentials and ensure personnel operating in the sector have the required technical competence.

Dingyadi further called for a transparent register of approved diving contractors, supervisors, instructors, and medical examiners to eliminate unqualified operators and strengthen accountability.

He said the board’s responsibility extended beyond regulatory compliance to ensuring that Nigerian workers engaged in dangerous underwater operations could return home safely after work.

The minister assured the board of the ministry’s administrative and logistical support, urging its members to establish clear operating guidelines and enforce safety standards without compromise.

Earlier, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and board chairman, Dr Kamil Shoretire, said the inauguration was a critical step toward effectively implementing the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.

He explained that the regulations were developed under the Factories Act, Cap F1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to address emerging workplace safety challenges and improve protection for workers in high-risk environments.

Shoretire said the ministry has continued to discharge its statutory responsibility for occupational safety, health and welfare by enforcing the Factories Act and its subsidiary regulations, as well as through stakeholder engagement and public awareness initiatives.

He noted that advances in science and technology had transformed workplace machinery, equipment, materials and operating methods, making it necessary to strengthen regulatory responses to emerging occupational hazards.

The Permanent Secretary said the Factories Act empowered the minister, under Section 49, to issue additional regulations when necessary to protect workers’ safety, health and welfare.

He warned that failing to comply with diving safety requirements could lead to accidents, occupational illnesses, fatalities, and damage to equipment and other industrial assets.