ABUJA/Nigeria: The Federal Government has commended the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), its Director-General, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, and the management team for their outstanding performance and commitment to environmental stewardship following the public unveiling of the Agency’s Compendium of Achievements and the relaunch of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Map.
Speaking during the official ceremony at the Abuja Continental Hotel on Tuesday, the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas-Lawal, described the occasion as a reflection of Nigeria’s deepening commitment to environmental protection, accountability, and sustainable development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his keynote address, the Minister emphasized that both the Compendium and the updated ESI Map serve as verifiable, data-driven records of NOSDRA’s work in oil spill detection and response, aligning with the Federal Government’s broader agenda of evidence-based environmental governance.
Mallam Abbas-Lawal disclosed that NOSDRA has conducted 1,424 Joint Investigation Visits (JIVs), recovered 15,980 barrels of crude oil from 1,512 spill sites, and issued 660 Closeout Certificates for major clean-up projects, including those in Bodo and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) sites. He praised NOSDRA’s emergence as the top-performing government agency in Nigeria’s Transparency and Integrity Index for both 2023 and 2024, describing it as “a remarkable achievement of institutional excellence.”
However, the Minister expressed concern over the rising menace of artisanal refining, which he said accounts for about 82 percent of oil spills in the country. He urged NOSDRA to intensify surveillance, strengthen community engagement, and enhance enforcement to combat the destructive practice.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s support, Abbas-Lawal said NOSDRA remains pivotal to Nigeria’s goal of a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable oil and gas sector.
Chairman of the NOSDRA Governing Board, Mr. Edward Omo-Erewa, also commended Engr. Woke and the entire staff for their professionalism and dedication, noting that the Agency’s consistent recognition nationally and internationally underscores its operational excellence and leadership in environmental management.
In his remarks, Director-General Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke expressed deep appreciation to the Minister, the Governing Board, and stakeholders for their support. He explained that the Compendium and ESI Map relaunch capture the Agency’s progress in policy, capacity building, and enforcement, reinforcing its transparency and accountability mandate.
According to him, the new ESI Map integrates geospatial and socio-economic data to support faster and better-coordinated responses to oil spill incidents. He highlighted NOSDRA’s use of technology through platforms like the Oil Spill Monitor, Gas Flare Tracker, and Methane Emission Tracker, which provide real-time environmental data for improved decision-making.
Woke attributed the Agency’s success to teamwork and collaboration with stakeholders, assuring that NOSDRA will continue to drive innovation and uphold integrity in its operations.
The event concluded with goodwill messages from key stakeholders and development partners, followed by the formal unveiling of the Compendium and the relaunched ESI Map, a milestone marking a new chapter in Nigeria’s pursuit of sustainable environmental management.
