Abuja: The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has announced its continued collaboration with stakeholders to tackle oil spills in Nigeria. This was revealed by NOSDRA’s Director-General, Chukwuemeka Woke, when he met with a delegation from the Green Clean Innovation Hub, led by Chief Executive Mr. Promise Amaha.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint hosting of an International Oil Spill Summit and Expo. This summit aims to create a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among industry players, government agencies, community leaders, and environmental experts. The event will gather local and international stakeholders to address the environmental, economic, and social impacts of oil spills. It will also showcase new technologies, policies, and strategies for spill prevention, detection, and response.
Woke stated that the partnership with the organization has benefitted NOSDRA and Nigeria since its inception in 2012. He emphasized the summit’s importance, highlighting that it will bring together key stakeholders from the oil and gas industry, host communities, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, security agencies, and the media. The platform aims to bridge existing gaps, resolve challenges, and foster better understanding among all parties involved.
The forthcoming summit aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritizes sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Woke noted that the gathering would play a crucial role in advancing Nigeria’s environmental protection goals by fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and strengthening the country’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to oil spill incidents.
Mr. Promise Amaha expressed gratitude to NOSDRA for the partnership, describing it as a significant step forward. He announced that the Expo would launch the first-ever Oil Spill Host Communities in Renewed Hope Initiative, unveiling strategic measures for greater climate stakeholder engagement. This initiative aims to integrate communities into surveillance, reporting, and capacity building to enhance NOSDRA’s mandate on oil spill detection and response.