11 October 2016, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The European Union, EU, has organised an eight-day oil spill response and preparedness training in Lagos.
The programme tagged, “Oil Spill Response and Preparedness Training on the Job,” as attended by participants drawn from the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA; Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
The training was held in Nigeria as one of EU’s five priority countries in Africa, the other countries being Senegal, Ghana, Cote d’voire and Cameroun.
According to the EU, it is a capacity development and enhancement initiative in the area of environmental management and sustainability towards achieving a cleaner environment by reducing pollution as a result of oil spillage in the Nigerian maritime environment.
The training provided participants with the requisite knowledge to combat oil spills where and when they occur as well as educating them on contingency plans and equipment to deploy.
Speaking at the training, NIMASA’s Director General, Dakuku Peterside, decried the negative impact of oil spills on the marine environment and the effects on the livelihood of people living in coastal communities. He noted that it was only adequate preparation that could help mitigate the effect of oil spills.
“It is necessary to note that where there are in place contingency plans and equipment, without training those that will handle them, there will be no preparedness. Hence this training is timely and highly appreciated especially being granted free to our nation,” he said.