Onyebuchi Ezigbo
29 September 2008
Abuja — The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has said that the ongoing Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping project around the coastline bordering the country's oil-rich Niger Delta has reached 85 percent completion stage.
The project being handled by Geo-Africa Limited, is being implemented as part of measures to ensure proper monitoring and surveillance of oil spill occurrences as provided in the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP).
The agency said when the project is completed, the newly developed maps will replace all other ones currently in use by oil companies operating within the Niger Delta region.
Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NOSDRA, Dr. Bamidele A. Ajakaiye, while addressing stakeholders at a meeting in Abuja explained that the ESI mapping was a project aimed at filling the gaps identified by the NOSCP, to develop the map for coastline areas within 50 kilometres inland.
The NOSDRA's boss said the agency was legally mandated to carry out the ESI mapping, adding that it however considered necessary to bring the various stakeholders on board to prepare an acceptable map for the country.
He said there is the need for closer collaboration and synergy in preparing the ground for the successful conduct of a national workshop on the project scheduled by the agency to hold in Abuja by late October.
Ajakaiye stated that the aim of the workshop is to enable stakeholders rub minds on how to come up with common agenda on the ESI mapping project.
According to the DG , the national ESI base-map when completed will replace all other such maps being used by individual oil companies.
Managing Director of Geo-Africa, Dr. Sheyin Fabiyi, disclosed that ESI map had reached advanced stage, adding the project would traverse from Badagry to Calabar, with the field work segmented into Lagos - Ogun, Ondo-Delta, Rivers-Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom - Cross Rivers states.
Among the stakeholders who are collaborating with NOSDRA on the project are NNPC, Oil Companies, NIMASA, NPA and littoral states such as Delta and Akwa Ibom.
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