The Director-General of the National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke has called on Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to intensify efforts in mitigating the environmental impact of a recent oil spill from its Bonny Island facility in Rivers State.
Engr. Woke made this appeal during an emergency evaluation tour of the spill site, accompanied by senior NOSDRA officials. The inspection came after the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) reported a pipeline rupture at SPDC’s loading terminal on December 14, resulting in significant oil discharge that affected the Oyorokoto community in Andoni Local Government Area.
“Our presence here ahead of the Joint Investigation Visit underscores our commitment to ensuring readiness for containment strategies,” Woke stated. “It is imperative that we assess both the immediate measures and long-term plans to manage and remediate the spill’s effects.”
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Woke commended SPDC for its initial containment actions while urging the company to intensify cleanup efforts and prevent further environmental degradation. He reaffirmed NOSDRA’s dual mandate of environmental stewardship and rapid response, citing the agency’s provisional approval for using dispersants to control the spill.
Reinforcing this stance, Dr. Sola Oladipo, NOSDRA’s Director of Planning, Policy Analysis, and Research, stressed the agency’s focus on safeguarding national interests by preventing shoreline breaches.
In response, SPDC’s Emergency Response Commander, Engr. Abatam Nwosu, reiterated the company’s commitment to environmental safety. “Our protocols are stringent, focusing first on human safety and environmental integrity. We’ve enacted multiple responsive actions, including containment via maritime vessels,” Nwosu explained.
Nwosu acknowledged the complexities of locating the exact spill source due to multiple offshore operations, hinting at possible leaks from other facilities, including an NNPC pipeline. “Pinpointing leak origins in open waters is complex, but we are working closely with NOSDRA, particularly in conducting source analysis,” he said.
SPDC assured the public that the spill affected only one of its three loading buoys, which has been isolated, emphasizing that oil exports from the terminal remain unaffected.
The evaluation visit concluded with NOSDRA and SPDC reinforcing their commitment to collaborative efforts aimed at bolstering immediate response measures and ensuring long-term environmental recovery. Mr. Ime Ekanem, Assistant Director and Port Harcourt Zonal Head, emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation in safeguarding Nigeria’s marine ecosystem.
