NOSDRA Cautions Oil Firms On Fake Consultants

Managements of oil companies in Nigeria have been warned to stop patronising unqualified consultants and those not accredited by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
The Director-General of NOSDRA, Sir Peter Idabor, gave the warning at a workshop for NOSDRA accredited and prospective environmental consultants held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.
Idabor remarked that it would no longer be business as usual as such consultants would no longer be allowed to get contracts from oil companies in the country.
Idabor who was represented at the event by NOSDRA Director of  Finance and Administration, Mrs Uche Okwechime, expressed dismay over what he described as nasty practices by unaccredited consultants.
Commenting on the issue of unclean oil spill in the Niger Delta, he said that the federal government was addressing the issue of incessant oil spill, pollution and environmental degradation in the region, particularly in Ogoni, Rivers State.
The workshop with the theme: Ensuring Best Practices in Environmental Consultancy Service in Oil Spill Management in Nigeria,’ was fully attended by stakeholders in Oil and Gas environment.
According to the agency, the workshop was part of the efforts towards ensuring best practices relating to oil spill management, clean-up, rehabilitation, protection and remediation of the environment.
A participant, Chief Justice Nwokolo, who spoke to our correspondent at the sideline of the event noted that most of the oil spills were as a result of aged equipment by oil companies and sabotage.
Nwokolo urged Petroleum Resources Ministry to mandate oil firms operating in the country to replace their over-aged equipment as a way out of the problem.