From Thursday 24 to 25 May 2018,at Obi Wali Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, stakeholders will come together to exchange ideas with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on the sensitization of oil spill incidents, response and management in oil-producing areas in the Niger Delta.
NOSDRA will use the summit to enlarge public awareness relating to its roles/footprints and to create enlightenment on the techniques to be applied by operators in the industry if and when these incidents occur. The preventive measures and remediation efforts will be highlighted in technical papers to be presented by experts at the two-day summit. Participants will have the opportunity to highlight their contributions to NOSDRA’s posture of zero tolerance for oil spills in oil producing communities and also to underscore the observance of requisite environmental best practices by operators in the industry.
The summit is coming at a time when the adoption of global best practices is being demanded of all companies who are engaged in Exploration and Production (E & P) activities in the Niger Delta. Several Oil Spill management experts, E&P CEOs and HSE experts are expected to lead the conversation at the summit.
The MD/CEO of CIMAC ASSOCIATES, joint partners organizing the summit with NOSDRA, Mr John George Igoche, commended the Rivers State Government for providing the enabling platform to have the summit, which he says will go a long way to highlight the essence of the discussion and the initiatives necessary for the prevention of oil spills, as well as, the steps essential for ameliorating its adverse effects on the environment.
Mr George also added that the Governors of all the oil-producing states of the Niger Delta, including the host governor are expected to attend, with their commissioners of environment. In addition, the Nigerian Honorable Minister of Environment is also expected as a Special Guest of Honor to declare the summit open with a keynote address.
This summit is clearly geared towards the development of an annual platform for unbiased, insightful and patriotic conversations on best practices in spill-related matters; it will also provide a broad platform for local technology capacity showcasing.
