The Federal Government has disclosed that it is considering
stricter sanctions for companies involved in oil spillage in the Niger Delta.
The Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, who
revealed this on Thursday at the weekly ministerial press briefing organised by
the Presidential media team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also explained
that her ministry is engaging other relevant government agencies to achieve
this.
Ikeazor said that ministry of environment is working to
amend the law establishing the National Oil Spillage Detection and Response
Agency to build its capacity and give it “the needed teeth to bite.”
She added, “We need to put strong legal framework to stop
the oil spills that is going on. The devastation in Niger Delta is massive —
this is something we need to tackle headlong.
“We need to review the NOSDRA Act— National Oil Spills
Detection And Response Agency. We need to put stiffer penalties in place to be
able to have the teeth to bite. The government is working to create alternative
livelihood for the communities to be able to move them away from illegal
activities.”
She further explained that the operating company of the
OML29 in Nembe, Bayelsa state, has blamed the most recent oil spillage in the
country on sabotage by the locals.
The minister announced that the Santa Barbara spillage has
been brought under control after weeks the incident occurred; with necessary
personnel and equipment deployed to begin recovery and remediation efforts.
She, thereafter, stressed the need to put an end to
artisanal refineries, which she said had continued to cause pollution in the
Niger Delta.
The minister also lamented the high rate of deaths from
smoke especially among women in the country.
According to her, Nigeria ranks the highest in the global
list of death cases arising from smoke inhalation.
She said something must be done about the ongoing gas flaring,
noting that the country cannot be committed to net zero emission and involve in
indiscriminate gas flaring at the same time.
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