NOSDRA to launch national oil spill monitor, says DG

Mechanism would enhance quick response to emergencies.

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, says it will launch an oil spill monitor programme nationwide to enable it alert officials during oil spill emergencies.

The Director-General of the agency, Peter Idabor, announced this on Friday at a retreat for the agency’s Governing Board and management in Abuja.

Mr. Idabor said the mechanism would enhance quick response to emergencies.

The director-general said the agency was collaborating with oil producing communities as well as oil majors to design programmes on how to monitor spillage and quickly report to the appropriate authorities.

He also commended the National Assembly for speeding up the amendment of NOSDRA laws for effective operations and policing of oil explorations in the oil producing communities.

“As you all know, NOSDRA was established by an Act of the National Assembly in 2006 as an institutional framework for the management of oil spill in Nigeria. We are commending the National Assembly for expediting the process of the amendment of the NOSDRA Act for effective regulation and enforcement in the oil industry. Yes, laws are there but the question is how effective are these laws; therefore these are some of the issues that we need to address. I want to assure you that when these laws are amended, it will provide a better condition for us to effectively carry out our mandate.” Mr. Idabor said.

The chairman of the governing board of NOSDRA, Landslot Nyanya, said it was keen on preparing and repositioning the agency for effective response to oil spill emergencies.

Mr. Nyanya said the board, having assessed the quality of manpower in the agency, noted that it needed enhanced revenue for effective and efficient operations. He gave the assurance that the agency would make all stakeholders in the oil producing industries to live up to their responsibilities in terms of disasters management.