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_By Abbas Nazil_
Representatives from the Olegh Centre for Community Development and Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General and Management Staff of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on March 19, 2025, in Abuja.
The visit focused on addressing environmental concerns in the Niger Delta and advocating for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
During the meeting, Kebetkache’s representative, Dr. Sam-Gabriel Ifeoma, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with NOSDRA’s Director-General, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke.
Speaking on behalf of Kebetkache’s Director, Chief Emem Bridget, the team lead, Mr. Jacob Iniodu, emphasized the organization’s dedication to amplifying the voices of grassroots women on issues related to extractive industries, climate change, and women’s rights.
He stressed the importance of advocacy, sensitization, research, and capacity building in achieving their goals.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Olegh Centre, Mr. Henry Eferegbo, highlighted major environmental issues in the Niger Delta, including concerns over the operations of Sterling Global in several communities in Emohua LGA, Rivers State.
He alleged that the company was operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), resulting in severe environmental degradation.
Mr. Eferegbo also revealed alarming findings from a study conducted in Otuabagi, Bayelsa State—the first site where oil was drilled in the state.
The study found crude oil in the blood samples of over 60 women, raising serious health concerns.
He appealed to NOSDRA to support a health impact assessment for the affected women. He further disclosed that decommissioned oil wells in Otuabagi, abandoned for over 30 years, were still leaking crude oil, contaminating the land and water sources.
Additionally, he cited the case of Ibaa community, where residents woke up to find crude oil in their water wells, exposing them to severe health risks, including cancer.
He urged NOSDRA to review its oil spill reporting policies and to ensure that affected communities participate in monitoring and reporting rather than relying solely on oil companies.
In response, NOSDRA’s Director-General, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, welcomed the visiting NGOs and assured them of the agency’s commitment to environmental protection.
He reaffirmed that NOSDRA’s mandate includes implementing the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) and ensuring proper management of oil spills.
Addressing the concerns raised, he acknowledged the need for transparency and accountability in the petroleum industry and stressed the importance of EIAs in all oil-related operations.
Engr. Woke confirmed that NOSDRA had sent its Oil Field Assessment and Special Duties teams to Ibaa community to monitor ongoing environmental restoration efforts.
He also noted that NOSDRA’s Reference Laboratory in Port Harcourt was actively involved in certifying remediation efforts in the area.
However, he clarified that while some of the issues raised fell outside NOSDRA’s direct mandate, the agency collaborates with other government bodies to address them.
He assured the NGOs that NOSDRA remains impartial and will ensure strict compliance with Nigeria’s environmental regulations, emphasizing that the agency’s primary objective is to protect local communities and the environment from the adverse effects of oil exploration.