‘Ogoni clean-up on course’

Contrary to insinuations that the Ogoniland clean up project is slowing down, Director General of National Oil Spill Detections Regulatory Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Peter Idabor, has said the project is on course.

Idahor told The Guardian that the Federal Government and United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP have developed a solid environmental project that will not fail easily, and is expected to last for 30 years.

Some of the laudable efforts in place for the project, he said, include a $10 million take off grant.He argued that technical committee instituted, has been working on the project and other related priorities.

“It is imperative at this point, that present administration should be commended for keeping its promise of cleaning up Ogoniland by demonstrating the will to implement the UNEP report, Idabor added.

To him, NOSDRA as an agency is playing a key role in cleanup project not just as a leading regulator in managing environmental issues in oil and gas industry, but has also deployed staff to HYPREP, which will execute the project.

On issue of oil bunkering, the Director -General explained that it was a matter of national security, which goes beyond his agency’s statutory mandate, noting, these incidents have significantly contributed to environmental degradation in Niger Delta region.

He stressed further that the agency is collaborating with Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders to develop a harmonized standard operating procedure on arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels and person within maritime environment. “This synergy has pay off and allows us to deal with oil bunkering and other related criminal activities”, he noted.