THE Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has inaugurated the Joint Project Management Committee (JPMC) for the maiden Nigeria International Oil Spill Summit and Expo (NIOSS), describing the move as a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s oil spill response architecture.

Akume, who was represented at the ceremony by the Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Kana, said the summit aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and accountability in addressing the environmental and socio-economic impact of oil spills.

The SGF stressed that the Federal Government expects the committee to work diligently to deliver a summit that produces practical recommendations, strengthens regulatory coordination, and enhances Nigeria’s global standing in oil spill management and environmental governance.

The summit is spearheaded by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in collaboration with Green Clean Innovation Hub Limited.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NOSDRA, Chukwuemeka Woke, described NIOSS as a landmark initiative aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s oil spill governance framework through strategic partnerships and the adoption of global best practices.

He explained that the summit will provide a high-level platform for regulators, operators, development partners, and host communities to collectively design sustainable solutions to recurring spill incidents across the country.

Woke further disclosed that the agency intends to leverage the summit to launch transformative initiatives, including the development of a national oil spill database for real-time monitoring, strengthened inter-agency surveillance mechanisms, and community-centred response models that empower host communities as active stakeholders in environmental protection.

According to him, beyond policy dialogue, NIOSS will focus on measurable outcomes such as attracting investment in remediation technologies, promoting coastal resilience projects, and integrating innovative financing mechanisms, including carbon credit frameworks, to support long-term ecosystem restoration.

Also speaking, the Consultant to Green Clean Innovation Hub Limited, Promise Amaha, described NIOSS as a transformative platform designed to bridge policy, technology, and community engagement.