The Director General (DG), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Peter Idabor has disclosed that over 60% of the tanks of oil companies in the countries leak into the underground water, polluting the environment.
The DG said the pollution endanger lives by poisoning food and cause “a lot of social dislocations.”
He made this assertion during a public hearing in the National Assembly while deliberating on a bill to amend the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency in the House of Representatives, Abuja on Wednesday.
The DG however assured Nigerians that the agency is capable of delivering clean and safe environment if the legal framework is strengthened and necessary infrastructure and facilities are provided.
Some of the amendments proposed include change of name from National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to National Oil Pollution Management Agency ” to properly capture the scope of the agency’s mandate of managing oil spills which includes oily waste, gas and other noxious substances so as to protect the environment”
Another is section 2 (b) of the amendment bill that deals with its governing council to consist of only the chairman and a representative each from ministries not below a director of Environment, Petroleum Resources, Defence, Transport, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and Oil Products Trade Section of Lagos Chamber of Commerce (OPTS).
In his contribution His Royal Highness, Mr. Suanu Baridam, Gbenemene of Bangaa ll, Kasimeme Bangaa Vol, Ogoni Rivers states urged the authorities to adequately fund NOSDRA to build more capacity to carry out it’s mandate.
Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Environment and Habitat, Mr. Obinna Chidoka who presided over the public hearing, assured all stakeholders in that the committee will work assiduously to strengthen their laws for better service delivery.