NOSDRA activates 2013 national oil spill contingency plan

Maj. Lancelot Anyanya (rtd), Chairman of the Governing Board of NOSDRA, while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt during the 48-hour drill, said the exercise was part of the agency’s mandate and that is why they have to participate, learn and see how the agency can handle important assignments for the well being of the […]

Maj. Lancelot Anyanya (rtd), Chairman of the Governing Board of NOSDRA, while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt during the 48-hour drill, said the exercise was part of the agency’s mandate and that is why they have to participate, learn and see how the agency can handle important assignments for the well being of the communities who bear the brunt of oil exploration and exploitation as well as for public safety.
Anyanya said that the drill was an exercise in preparation for any oil spill emergency which when perfected would assist in responding promptly to any emergency occurrence.
He said that President Goodluck Jonathan was deeply committed to reversing the trend of many years, where it seemed as if government did not care about the environment. This, he said necessitated the constitution of the board which has been working with the management to achieve the mandate.
“This is a further demonstration of the proactive disposition of the Jonathan government that all ministries and departments of government are encouraged to be proactive, particularly when it comes to critical issues like the oil environment,’’ he added.
He said that after the exercise, if there would be any need to inject new equipment for effective response, it would be done by all the stakeholders.
Director-General of NOSDRA Mr Idabor Peter, said the exercise was in collaboration with Shell Nigeria, adding that the essence of the drill was to also x-ray the effectiveness of collaboration by stakeholders. He added that the stakeholders in the spill situation includes the Army, Navy, Customs and all parties that need to be called up in the case of oil spill.
“So, we have selected a scenario which started playing out this morning and effectively, we are passing through the 48-hour period for the activation of this national oil spill contingency plan.”
He explains that it is not a real scenario but just a play out to see how effective the activation will be and the role to be played by all concerned.
“We are also looking at the possibility of having spill that could cut across from other countries into our country, what might be done to immediately meet up with the expectation,” Peter said.
Mr Mshelbila Philip, General Manager (Communications), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), commended NOSDRA for the exercise, describing it as timely.
He emphasized the need to be prepared at all times, especially when the country has an environment where oil spills occur, adding that his company always conducts drills in order not to be taken unawares.