Joseph Bakare
The Federal Government has said it will reviewed the National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Act to make it more effective.
This will consider stiffer penalties to oil companies involved in oil spillage in the country.
The Minister of Environment, Sharon Ikeazor who gave the indication on Thursday, November 25; at the weekly ministerial briefing at the State House, noted that a strong legal framework has become expedient to stop ongoing oil spills.
She said that the OML29 oil spill in Nembe, Bayelsa State has been brought under control; while blaming the oil spillage on sabotage by the locals.
According to her, necessary personnel and equipment have been deployed by government to begin recovery and remediation efforts handled by NOSDRA, as the agency assures that a post-spill impact assessment will be concluded in one month.
Ikeazor also indicated that government is working to create alternative livelihoods for local communities to put a halt to illegal activities, that lead to sabotage of oil.
Nigeria has the highest rate of smoke-induced death in the world; most of which are women according to the environment ministry.
The government is hoping to reintroduce clean cookstove and the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cookstove initiative described as fundamental; to enabling a reversal of the deaths and protecting the nation’s biodiversity.
