Onyebuchi Ezigbo
14 October 2008
Abuja — Federal Government has embarked on a campaign for international collaboration to help strengthen the country's preparedness and response capacity in dealing with the problems of oil spill in the Niger Delta.
The Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Halima Tayo Alao, along with the Director-General/CEO of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Dr. Bamidele Ajakaiye, at the weekend visited some organisations in the United Kingdom involved in oil spill management to solicit their assistance and cooperation on measures to address the problem of oil spillage and the associated ecological damage in the country.
A statement issued by the Press Officer of NOSDRA, Mr. Okechukwu Emeh, said the team had discussions with the Chief Executive Officer of Oil Spill Response Limited and East Asia Response Limited (OSRL/EARL), Mr. Archie Smith on how they could offer assistance to address the problem of oil spillage.
According to the statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, the minister and her delegation also met with the officials of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Funds and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA).
The Minister said the Federal Government has taken a number of steps to control oil spillage in the country through the intervention mechanisms of NOSDRA, citing the implementation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) and the unfolding Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping project for coastal areas as part of the measures.
She explained that the proposed ESI mapping document is to provide the base maps on which individual oil companies can superimpose their projects specific ESI maps.
Smith said the synergy with Nigeria will help in the effort to "improve international oil spill preparedness and response framework."
He also stated that the study visit will provide relevant information on the plan for the establishment of a Harmonised Action Plan for the Development of Coastal Oil Spill Sensitivity Mapping for Nigeria, as well as an update on dispersant use policy.
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