We Lack Capacity To Tackle Marine Pollution, FG Confesses

Nigeria currently lacks the capability to handle marine pollution, the Federal Government has said.
It, however, stated that marine pollution was not common to Nigeria alone, claiming that the super powers also suffered from the same problem.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, disclosed this in Abuja yesreday when she received a letter of approval for Nigeria to host the Regional Coordinating Centre to combat marine pollution in West, Central and Southern Africa.
The letter was delivered to the minister by the Executive Secretary, Abidjan Convention, Mr. Abou Bamba, during a courtesy visit to the ministry’s headquarters.
Mallam said, “Yes, we have this problem. It is not only Nigeria that is battling with this problem. Even the super powers, they also suffer this problem. We are doing our best. The sitting of the marine pollution headquarters here will give us the advantage.
“We do not have the technology, capabilities to handle these problems. With others coming in, it will be a combined effort and we will be able to do it well. So, we are happy to have it here. And I know that with others with us, we shall succeed.
“With the support we have from the Federal Government and the director-general of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) we will not fail the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). We will not fail other countries that are on the coastline on this matter.”
She assured the Convention of the support of the Federal Government in fighting marine pollution.
In his address, Bamba said the hosting of the headquarters in Nigeria was another step in tackling marine pollution in the region.
He noted that this would speed up the clean-up of Ogoni land, adding that the Abidjan Convention would provide adequate logistics to make the Nigerian centre functional and successful.