Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has urged all relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to strengthen collaboration for effective response to oil spill detection in Nigeria.
Balarabe disclosed this in Abuja while unveiling the National Oil Spill Response and Detection Agency, NOSDRA, compendium of achievements and the relaunch of the Environmental Sensitivity Index, ESI.
The Minister commended NOSDRA for their recent distinction as the top-performing agency amongst 500 MDAs in the 2024 Nigeria Transparency and Integrity Index, adding that the accomplishments underscore the success of the President’s ongoing reforms in the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at ensuring that public institutions operate with improved transparency and accountability for measurable impact.
He further reiterated that the Compendium and the relaunch of the ESI Map will provide a clear and transparent record of NOSDRA’s performance, institutional growth, and impact, all of which align with the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
He noted that the initiative was not merely a documentation of achievements but a demonstration of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to evidence-based environmental governance, adding that it reinforces the ministry’s shared determination to institutionalize data-driven decision-making, deepen environmental accountability and advanced sustainable resource management across Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.
He said that through the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, NOSCP, and other innovative tools such as the Oil Spill Monitor, Gas Flare Tracker, and Satellite-Based Methane Emission Tracker, the Agency continues to demonstrate innovation, efficiency, and transparency.
“The journey toward a sustainable oil and gas industry is one that demands diligence, innovation, and integrity. NOSDRA’s progress, as reflected in this Compendium, demonstrates what is possible when an institution combines professionalism with purpose,” the Minister said.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Director General/Chief Executive of NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, revealed that the recent honour and relaunch of ESI Map have revealed their unwavering commitment to Environmental protection, Regulatory excellence and Operational transparency across Nigerian’s Upstream, Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Sector.
He said Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry has played a pivotal role in the national economy, providing energy security, driving industrial growth and contributing to economic prosperity.
Chukwuemeka enjoined major stakeholders in the environmental sector to continue to confront the environmental challenges that accompany the Oil Spills, gas flaring and other operational impacts that remain threats to our Ecosystems and Communities.
He equally stated that institution-building is the foundation of sustainable progress which NOSDRA has deliberately strengthened its systems to reflect transparency, accountability, and inter-agency collaboration.
In another development, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensure full implementation of the National Adaptation Plan, NAP, document to enhance environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
Balarabe who was represented by the Ministry Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari stated this in Abuja during a high-level validation workshop of NAP documentation with delegations from the 36 States, FCT, Academia, Representatives of the Physically Challenge People and other relevant MDAS.
The Minister disclosed that Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and its phenomena manifests from changing weather patterns such as Drought and Desertification, to rising sea levels, inundation of coastal lands by sea water and flooding with adverse impacts on food security, human health and settlements resulting in increased loss of lives and property.
Balarabe also mentioned that addressing climate change is one of the cardinal agendas of this administration. “Nigeria, is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement,” he stated.
The Minister further revealed that Nigeria made a commitment to reduce Green House Gas emissions by 47%, with international support for adaptation strategies by aligning with Nigeria’s NAP that is about to be validated.
“Adapting to climate change means taking action to prepare for and adjust to both the current effects of climate change and the predicted impacts in the future,” he added.
He equally disclosed that Nigeria’s NAP, supported by the Green Climate Fund, GCF, is building on the 13 identified thematic areas in the National Adaptation Strategy & Plan of Action, NASPA, stressing that the major activity of the NAP Process is the conduct of Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, CRVA, aimed at identifying communities’ vulnerability.
He also stated that presently, talks are ongoing with the NAP Global Network and other Delivery Partners to address other identified gaps such as issues on loss & damage, human mobility & the NAP process, education considerations & the NAP.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. Jonah Barde, Deputy Director, Department of Climate Change said that climate change impacts are on the rise globally and Nigeria is not exempted in the extreme weather events and climate variability as it impacts many sectors, ranging from key infrastructures, biodiversity and security challenges.
He also thanked the stakeholders for honouring the call to national assignment to ensure environmental sustainability nationwide.
The National Council on Climate Change, NCCC, United Nation Environmental Programmes, UNEP, Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nation, FOA, in their separate goodwill messages pledged their support to ensure full coordination and support the domestication of NAP document in Nigeria.
The National Project Coordinator of NAP, Mr. Kayode Aboyeji, in his closing remark noted that the NAP document will be made available to the public after ratification by the Federal Executive Council and submission at the forthcoming COP 30 at Belme, Brazil.
