Nigeria has greatest number of oil spill – NOSDRA

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has said that Nigeria holds the record as the country with the highest number of oil spill globally.

NOSRDA Director General, Mr Peter Idabor told Daily Trust that the country became the country with the highest number of spills due to the absence of strict laws to punish offenders. “We hold the globe record as country with the highest number of spills due to impunity on the part of operators and the total disregard for our existing laws,” he said.

“The oil companies operating here are doing what they are not doing in their country of origin. They are taking advantage of our weak laws and polluting our environment indiscriminately,” he said.

He said that the agency was working with the National Assembly to upgrade its laws to criminalise spills in the country.

Idabor said that the agency was investing in capacity development of its staff to ensure that they were up to date with monitoring and quick responses. He said that as soon as the Senate complete its work on the NOSDRA law, Nigerians would no longer go to foreign countries to get judgement about pollution in their environment.