Safety must come first: Shell tells contractor CEOs in Lagos‎

EVP Elohor Aiboni says every Shell worker deserves to return home safely, without exception
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‎Shell has told chief executives of its contracting partners that safety will always come first, regardless of how significant or complex a project may be, Confiance News has learned.
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‎The message was delivered at the Shell Leadership and Contractor CEO Conference, held in Lagos on August 18, an annual gathering built around what organisers describe as a shared commitment to people, performance and safety. This year’s theme was “Learn. Adapt. Improve.”
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‎No project outweighs safe delivery, Aiboni says
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‎Speaking at the event, Shell’s Executive Vice President and Country Chair Nigeria, Elohor Aiboni, said the company was executing an extensive portfolio of projects aimed at meeting Nigeria’s growing energy needs, creating stakeholder value and supporting national development, it was gathered.
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‎She noted, however, that no matter how significant the opportunity or important the project, success would always be measured first by how safely it was delivered. According to her, that principle is the reason the conference continues to matter.
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‎Aiboni was also quoted as saying every person who works for Shell or on its behalf deserves to return home safely to their family every day, without exception, sources at the event confirmed.
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‎Leadership Charter signed at event
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‎Confiance News gathered that the conference featured technical discussions, a knowledge-sharing session, an exhibition, and awards recognising outstanding safety performance across Shell’s operations.
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‎The high point of the gathering was the formal signing of the Leadership Charter, a document jointly developed in 2025 through collaboration between the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and its contractor partners.
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‎SNEPCo boss links charter to conference theme
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‎Ahead of the signing, SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, said this year’s theme resonated directly with the intent behind the Charter, it was learned.
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‎He explained that learning required honesty about what has worked and what has proven difficult, while adapting called for a willingness to adjust approaches when operational realities demanded better outcomes.
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‎Adams added that improvement would only be achieved if the Charter’s commitments moved beyond conference discussions and became embedded in daily leadership, engagement, performance review, and safe execution practices, Confiance News obtained.