Oil Spill: Agency Highlights Need For Stakeholders’ Education

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says it will embark on a sensitisation programme to educate oil communities on oil spill management procedure.

NOSDRA’s Zonal Director in Uyo, Mr Irvin Obot, who spoke with newsmen in Eket on the agency’s activities, said that frequent oil spills in the state had made the enlightenment necessary.

He said the agency was at the final stage of the plans to educate oil spill prone communities in Akwa Ibom on the steps to take when a spill occurred in their areas.

“Our experience has shown that most communities in the state do not know the steps to take when there is a spill, and such ignorance sometimes causes further damage to the spill impacted sites.

“Whenever a spill occurs, the primary concern of the agency is to ensure that the spill is contained and cleaned up immediately, before you can begin to talk of compensation,’’ he said.

Obot said that some communities prevented officials of the agency from accessing oil spill sites with the erroneous impression that such acts would facilitate payment of compensation.

“We hope to commence the enlightenment of the public on the provisions of the environmental legislation, so that they can understand the oil spill compensation procedure.

“There is so much ignorance in the communities, and the agency is concerned and will play its role in ensuring that people get the information they require to take informed decisions,’’ he added.

The zonal director said the agency conducted enquiries into oil spill incidents in a transparent manner, in collaboration with affected communities and the oil operators.

He restated the resolve of the agency to reduce oil spills to the bearest minimum in the oil industry.