KEY POINTS
- Shell says safety must come before production targets.
- Contractors signed a charter to strengthen safety leadership.
- Nigeria targets higher oil and gas output amid growing activity.
Shell has renewed its call for stronger safety standards across its operations and producing assets in Nigeria, stressing that the success of major oil and gas projects must be measured not only by production and investment but also by the ability of workers and contractors to operate without exposing themselves to avoidable risks.
The company made the call at its annual Shell Leadership and Contractor CEO Conference, an industry gathering designed to strengthen collaboration between Shell and its contracting partners while promoting higher standards of safety, leadership and operational performance.
The conference was held under the theme, “Learn. Adapt. Improve,” with discussions focused on how lessons from previous operations can be used to improve decision-making, workplace safety and project execution.
Speaking at the conference, Shell Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Nigeria, Elohor Aiboni, said the company is implementing an extensive portfolio of projects and operations aimed at supporting Nigeria’s growing energy requirements while creating value for stakeholders and contributing to national development.
She, however, stressed that the scale or importance of any project would not take precedence over safety.
According to Aiboni, Shell is pursuing major opportunities, executing complex projects and working towards ambitious targets, but the company’s performance would ultimately be judged by how safely those activities are delivered.
She emphasised that every worker employed by Shell or working on behalf of the company should be able to return home safely to their families at the end of each working day.
The message underscores Shell’s position that safety must remain an integral part of its business culture rather than being treated as a separate requirement during project execution.
Contractors Urged To Strengthen Safety Culture
The conference also placed significant attention on Shell’s relationship with its contractors, who play an important role in delivering projects and maintaining operations across the company’s Nigerian assets.
The gathering provided an opportunity for contractors and company executives to share experiences, review operational challenges and discuss ways of improving safety performance.
Participants took part in discussions, learning sessions and an exhibition, while outstanding safety performances were also recognised through awards.
The company used the event to reinforce the need for contractors to maintain the same commitment to safety expected across Shell’s own operations.
One of the major highlights of the conference was the signing of the Leadership Charter, a framework jointly developed in 2025 by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and its contractor partners.
The charter is intended to provide a common leadership framework for improving safety, performance and collaboration across Shell’s operations and contracting network.
SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams said this year’s theme of “Learn. Adapt. Improve” was closely connected to the objectives of the charter.
He said organisations must be willing to examine what has worked, acknowledge areas where operations have faced difficulties and listen to employees and other stakeholders in order to identify areas requiring improvement.
Adams added that adapting means changing approaches when operational realities demand better solutions, while improvement requires ensuring that commitments made under the charter become part of everyday leadership and operational practices.
