FG unfolds plan to tackle oil spillage

The Federal Government is to tackle growing incidences of oil spillage, adopting a new technology.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Environment, Aisha Mohammed, who said that the new technology will prevent further degradation of the environment.

Mohammed at a National Workshop on Oil Spill Trajectory Modeling in Maritime Environment in Nigeria held in Abuja, bemoaned the increase in oil spillage caused by activities of illegal bunkering, artisanal refining, oil theft and armed militancy and explained that the modeling technique, would help determine the direction of oil spill in the maritime environment.

According to Mohammed, who was represented by Director-General of NOSDRA, Peter Idabor, “The use of oil spill modeling techniques in predicting the direction of movement of spilled oil in the marine environment is quite a laudable innovation, although it is difficult to accurately predict or simulate actual events, this tool presents a very valuable opportunity for both oil spill preparedness and response activities.

“There is a growing level of oil spill incidents caused majorly by activities of illegal bunkering, artisanal refining, oil theft and armed militancy. There is need for development of capacity to deal with the challenges that may be presented by oil spill, this workshop is therefore timely and a welcome development.”

She said the FG was committed to completing the Ogoni land clean up exercise and extending such to other parts of the country affected by oil spillage.

“As a demonstration of the commitment of this administration to oil spill management in Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari recently kick started the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoni land.

“This gesture will be extended to other parts of Niger Delta that have been devastated as a result of oil spillage and indeed across the country”

“The Federal Government is committed to working with the other stakeholders within the Global Initiative for West and Central Africa (GI WACAF) framework to adequately prepare and rapidly respond to any eventual trans-boundary oil spill incident within the region and also to offer support to any of the cooperating countries,” she added.

Mr. Liam Harrington of Oil Spill Response, who led the modeling team, said that about two to three dimensional models would be used to check the movement of oil spill on the surface or underneath the water level.

 

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