FG signs pact with XPO to stop waste dumps in waters

.Threatens to sanction defaulters

The Federal Government has signed an agreement with Offshore Pollution Control (XPO) Marine Services Limited to collect waste generated from ships operated by international oil companies (IOCs) and others in compliance with global best practices.

The Guardian gathered that by these developments, all shipping, maritime, IOCs and National Oil Companies (NOCs) communities are no longer free to dump waste on the waters, as defaulters would be strictly sanctioned.

Also, it was learnt that the move, which is under the supervision of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), would generate income and create new jobs in the country.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of the offshore waste reception for the agency’s Eastern Zone to the Concessionaire, XPO, the Deputy Director and Head of Public, Private Partnership (PPP) Unit of NIMASA, Kabiru Diso, said that the partnership will help address major challenges in the nation’s waters.

He said: “This will ensure that our waters are no longer a dumping ground of all kinds of wastes generated from the ships and other installations on Nigeria’s waters, ensuring total compliance to MARPOL 73/78, as amended, and in line with global best practice.”

He explained that the project would benefit Nigerians, stressing that the PPP arrangement is one of the best things that would happen to Nigeria, especially at the time when the country is having an economic crunch regarding money that is coming into the federation account.

Diso added: “There is an extreme infrastructure deficit in the country, and in other to improve our infrastructure to meet the 24th century needs, there is need to engage private partners who have the wherewithal, knowledge and resources to finance on behalf of the government to be able to provide infrastructure under the PPP arrangement.

“The concessionaire agreement with XPO Marine is for 10 years. For every revenue XPO makes in the collection of waste, the company will keep 60 per cent, 20 per cent will go to the Federal Government, while 20 per cent will go to NIMASA.”