Govt activates national oil spill contingency plan
THE Federal Government and oil firm, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) have concluded arrangement to carry out activation of National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) as agreed by the stakeholders.
Similar exercises took place in 2011 and 2013, and knowledge and expertise gained helped in no small measure in combating Bonga Oil Spill incident. NAOC will provide equipment for 2018 activation.
Director- General of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Sir Peter Idabor stated in statement in Abuja, said this is in accordance with International Convention on Oil Pollution.
He explained, NOSCP would handle oil spill management in Nigerian environment, and charged with the responsibility of ensuring timely, effective and response to clean up and remediation.
Idabor said they have to establish mechanism and capability to mobilise resources to save lives, protect threatened environment, and clean up to the best practical extent of impacted sites.
According to him, activation exercise will test the effectiveness of the incident management structure; assess the emergency preparedness of major stakeholders in oil spill containment, among others. He added: “We bided for Regional Coordinating Centre for Oil Spill and Response in West, Central and Sub-saharan Africa, and initiative driven by Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa, GI-WACAF.
“This arrangement is in partnership with International Maritime Organisation, and International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association, to enhance the capacity of these countries.”
To Director General, it would give rise to Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan, ROSCP, and this is a demonstration of goodwill and commitment to enhancing safety of Nigerian Environment.
FOLLOWING the nefarious activities of encroachers in forest reserves across Ondo State, some timber farmers have accused government officials and their cronies of aiding and abetting series of crimes including unfettered planting of Indian hemp.
In a petition written to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu by one of the victims, Mrs. Adenike Adeolu, who was allocated compartment 124 Akure/ofosu Forest Reserve, alleged that some government officials were bent on destroying her business.
Adeolu, who has been into timber business for more than 22 years, alleged that some persons were earlier arrested and made to sign an undertaking to stop Indian hemp plantation in