KEY POINTS
- NOSDRA seeks to enhance oil sector environmental regulations.
- MOUs with industry leaders will prioritize global safety standards.
- CNA proposes deeper regional involvement in oil spill response.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) is enhancing efforts to strengthen environmental regulations of the oil industry in Nigeria. The agency intends to increase the pace of its deals with oil firms to guarantee conformity with the world standards for oil spill policies and measures.
The Director-General of NOSDRA, Chukwuemeka Woke stated this at a meeting with the Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA) in Abuja. He elaborated on the agency’s mandate to ensure coordination of its work with the standards of the international environment to protect the industry as well as the environment.
Woke thanked the CNA for their support after they welcomed him during his recent appointment to the position. He further promised them that the memoranda of understanding (MOUs) they would wish to establish with them would be accorded the highest priority, especially in the finalization of those that seek to improve safety standards in the oil industry as captured by MOUs.
Collaborating to protect the environment
According to a report by Punch. Woke also emphasized the need to engage standards-developing bodies especially CNAs in the enhancement of the preparedness and response to oil spills. He said that faster and more efficient MOUs will assist organizations in adhering to environmental safety policies. In this perspective, NOSDRA seeks to ensure that petroleum companies are run under conditions that do not result in environmental degradation through oil spills.
The CNA’s chairman, Dr. Adeshina Sadiq, who is also the General Manager of Health, Safety, and Environment at Seplat Energy, holds the same opinion.
He stated that the CNA is willing to deepen cooperation with NOSDRA and work to advance the implementation of the signed MOUs. Sadiq mentions that he thinks NOSDRA and the CNA can work together to establish a better and cleaner oil industry.
Expanding CNA’s role in regional oil spill response
Sadiq also recommended increasing the capability of CNAs in oil spill-related activities at the regional level, especially during the Global Initiative for West, Central, and Southern Africa (GI-WACAF) Summit.
He opined that the participation of CNA executives in the summit would afford the association broader representation in the making of policies within the region; most notably, the Gulf of Guinea. This would help Nigeria and its neighbours better handle oil spills that threaten marine ecosystems.
Both the NOSDRA and the CNA are determined to prevent environmental disasters and ensure that petroleum companies operate under stricter environmental guidelines.
