Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - The Federal Government has launched a Digital Platform for Applicable Fees in Diving Operations within Nigerian Territorial Waters, a move the Ministry of Labour and Employment described as a groundbreaking step toward strengthening regulation, safety, and professionalism in the country’s diving sector.
The official launch and awareness workshop held in Abuja
brought together key industry stakeholders and regulators.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Salihu A. Usman, said the
digital platform represents a “significant milestone” in Nigeria’s effort to
align its diving operations with global standards while safeguarding the lives
and welfare of professional divers.
Dr. Usman highlighted the importance of the diving sector to
Nigeria’s economy, noting that professional divers play crucial roles in
offshore oil and gas, maritime operations, underwater construction, and salvage
activities. He described diving as one of the most challenging and high-risk
professions in the country, underscoring the need for stronger oversight
mechanisms.
According to him, the Ministry is introducing the digital
platform as part of broader policy reforms to tighten regulation and promote
transparency. He described the new platform as more than just a technological
tool, saying it embodies a renewed commitment to professionalism,
accountability, and, most importantly, the safety of every diver.
He explained that the digital system will simplify
compliance processes, promote efficiency, and enable real-time monitoring of
diving activities across Nigerian waters. The reform, he added, will ensure
that every diver and operator adheres to prescribed safety standards while
eliminating bottlenecks associated with manual oversight.
As part of the new measures, the Permanent Secretary
announced that the Foreign Labour Card will no longer apply to professional
divers working within Nigeria’s territorial waters. In its place, divers will
now be issued a Nigerian Diving Labour Card through the Ministry’s Occupational
Safety and Health Department.
Dr. Usman also drew attention to the Factories (Diving at
Work) Regulations 2018, which require all professional divers to register with
the recognized National Association of Professional Divers. The policy, he
said, aims to unify practitioners, strengthen operational standards, and give
divers a collective voice in policy and regulatory matters.
Emphasizing the importance of capacity building, Dr. Usman
stressed that competence and training remain the foundation of safety in the
industry. “Only through continuous training can we ensure our professionals
meet national and international standards,” he said, calling on contractors,
operators, and training institutions to fully embrace the Ministry’s reform
agenda.
He expressed optimism that the digital initiative and
associated regulatory measures would transform Nigeria’s diving sector into a
globally respected and safety-driven profession. “Together, we can build a
diving industry that stands as a model of excellence. This is not just a
digital reform, it is a step toward a safer, stronger, and more respected
diving profession in Nigeria,” he concluded.
Also speaking, the Director of the Occupational Health and Safety
Department, Mrs. Florence Owie, explained that the new regulation is driven by
the need to protect the lives of divers and ensure proper monitoring of diving
activities. “Divers are people whose work takes them beneath the waters, and
the hazards they face are numerous. That’s why we must monitor and ensure
safety,” she said. “If you are a diver, you must be licensed by the Ministry of
Labour and Employment.”
She emphasised that the Ministry’s oversight will extend to certifying
divers’ competence and verifying the safety of equipment used for underwater
work. “We have lost many lives in that industry, and we want to protect them,”
Owie added.
In his remarks, the National Secretary of the Association of Professional
Divers of Nigeria (APDN), Mr. Jackson Oreme, commended the government for the
initiative, describing it as a major step that will give the Nigerian diving
industry global recognition and credibility. “The Divers at Work Regulation
seeks to ensure that the regulation of the industry in Nigeria is recognized
globally and respected in the country. Many Nigerians are practicing diving,
and some are doing it in an unsafe manner, which has exposed many to fatalities
and accidents,” he said.
Oreme noted that enforcement of the regulations and the partnership with
the Ministry of Labour and Employment are vital to professionalizing the
sector. “This means that we have strong government backing in the regulation of
the industry. This regulation will be the backbone of safe and regulated diving
practice in Nigeria because all divers are expected to adhere to its
stipulations,” he stated.
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