Pipeline Vandalism: NOSDRA Integrates Oil Communities

The National Oil Spills De
tection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has commenced the implementation of community-based Disaster Risk Reduction plan aimed at reducing pipeline vandalism.
The Director-General of NOSDRA, Dr Peter Idabor, announced the implementation of the scheme at an oil industry stakeholders’ forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Represented by the Agency’s Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Musa Idris, the D-G noted that the integration of oil communities in oil spill management would promote a community-driven system of environmental protection.
He said that the agency observed that the non-existence of a community-based strategy of risk reduction in oil spill management constituted a limitation in the industry.
“There was therefore the need to envision a community-based approach and engagement that will culminate into a blueprint of action with strategic outcomes. “Thus, in tandem with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda for sustainable development in Nigeria, NOSDRA, in collaboration with UNDP, conceived this programme,” he said, adding that, “The programme was to demonstrate its resolute commitment to sustain grassroots integration into oil spill disaster reduction in the Niger Delta. Representatives of Ikarama and Kalaba communities in Bayelsa, the Bayelsa Government, Shell and Agip companies as well as civil society organisations attended the forum.
In a remark,  the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Iniruo Wills, commended NOSDRA for organising the programme  and pledged the support of the state government to extend the scheme to other oil communities.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to relocate the headquarters of NOSDRA to Bayelsa which hosts the bulk operations in the oil and gas industry.
Also speaking,  the Paramount Ruler of Ikarama community, Chief Francos Daniel, pledged the support of the oil communities and commended NOSDRA for involving them.
He noted that the communities had endured the environmental impact of oil exploration for decades and would cooperate in efforts to remedy and restore the environment.
An environmentalist, Mr Alagoa Morris, described the scheme as a welcome development that would bring relief to the ecosystem. He urged the agency to sustain the tempo and ensure that the project was executed to its logical conclusion.