Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Chukwuemeka Woke, has pledged to investigate alleged environmental pollution at multiple sites linked to IHS Nigeria Limited, a telecommunications infrastructure provider.
Woke made the commitment during a courtesy visit paid him by IHS Nigeria representatives on Wednesday.
He emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in ensuring environmental compliance and safety, and acknowledged IHS’s prompt notification of alleged pollution in locations, including Saka Alapa Aro Community in Osogbo, Osun State, Oke-Agba, Akure in Ondo State, and Lingo Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja.
In response to IHS’s request for continued partnership and regulatory training, Woke reiterated NOSDRA’s commitment to supporting the company by providing training for site managers on spill prevention and management.
He also called for the timely remediation of pending spill-impacted sites in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
IHS Nigeria, through its Director of Government Relations and External Affairs, Mr. Gimba Mohammad, had earlier urged NOSDRA to address the alleged pollution, highlighting the company’s reliance on diesel-powered generators for its thousands of telecom towers nationwide.
Mohammad sought NOSDRA’s oversight and guidance to mitigate potential environmental risks.
Deputy Director, Irvine Obot, further detailed the ongoing collaboration between NOSDRA and IHS since 2022, noting that the agency has conducted site assessments and initiated remediation activities at several IHS sites to ensure environmental compliance.
The company, which provides telecommunications infrastructure deployment and post-construction management services, operates across Nigeria and globally.
NAN
