NIMASA: Offshore Waste Management Will Enhance Nigerian Economic Growth
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that the federal government’s waste management project with XPO Marine Services Limited would enhance the country’s economic growth.
XPO Marine Services, a provider of offshore marine support services to the oil and gas industry, recently entered a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the country for the establishment of an offshore waste recovery facility.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, at the commencement of the implementation phase of the offshore waste reception facility (OWRF) project for Nigeria’s waters, Deputy Director and Head PPP Unit, NIMASA, Mr. Kabiru Diso, explained that the partnership would help address major challenges in Nigeria waters.
Diso, also stated that the engagement would ensure that the waters were no longer a dumping ground of all kinds of wastes generated from the ships and other installations on Nigeria’s waters.
According to the NIMASA Deputy Director, "Today is a remarkable day, not just because we are handing over the site for the commencement of this project, but it is remarkable as it heralds the success and commitment of the entities from the public sector and private sector coming together to achieve a common goal of proper, effective and efficient collection and disposal of waste on our waters through a private company incorporated under the law of the federal government.
"We have commissioned the implementation stage of the OWRF contract but for having an opportunity for the country to be able to discharge its function under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) obligation through PPP arrangement.”
He added, "The concessionaire is to ensure that ships and platform comply to MARPOL 73/78 as amended and in line with global best practice.
"The positive impact of what we are starting today is going to be tremendous, not only for the marine environment but will support the economic growth in the country."
Diso, added that the PPP arrangement was one of the best things that would happen to Nigeria especially at a time when the country was having economic crunch and dwindling revenue to the federation account.
"So, under this arrangement, NIMASA and the federal government will generate income and new jobs will be created. This project will be of benefit for all Nigerians."
Earlier, the Managing Director, Offshore Pollution Control (XPO) Marine Services, Mr. Wellington Agharese, said with the partnership, the federal government would be taking a bold step to collect all the waste generated from ships and other platforms operated by IOCs and NOCs, so that they can be treated in an acceptable manner and disposed of according to MARPOL convention.