Navy patrols Bonga field

26 December 2011, December, WARRI – THE Nigerian Navy in Delta State has deployed ships to patrol the sea and ensure security around the territorial boundaries of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SDPC –operated Bonga oil field in Bayelsa State, as officials of the company carry out clean-up exercise following a recent oil spill.

This is coming on the heels of deployment of a ship NNS, Zaria to convey officials of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, to Bonga field, 65 nautical miles from Warri, in a joint effort to ensure proper assessment and clean-up.

The gesture, according to the Commanding Officer, NNS, Delta, Commodore Bum S Kor, was to provide its supportive role of ensuring a clean maritime domain and to enable the officials have a proper assessment of the situation.

Kor, while chatting with journalists in Warri said from official reports, “the situation is calm as Shell is deploying all its arsenals to hasten the clean up”.

In his words, “In line with the Nigerian Navy statutory role of assisting agencies in making sure that the maritime environment is protected, NNS, Delta has assisted in lifting officials of NOSDRA from Warri to Bonga field which is 65 nautical miles away.

“The immediate deployment of the vessel is important, they have returned and their reports are that the situation is now calm, SPDC is making all efforts to ensuring that the spill is contained and clean up.

“Also, in other to monitor the situation, the Nigerian Navy has deployed some of her personnel in SNEPCo office in Lagos.”

On his part, Mr. Bunmi Akindele, Deputy Director/Head, Warri Zonal Office said, “On behalf of the Director General, we thank the Nigerian Navy for the supportive role they have played thus far with regard to the oil spillage.

“We want to seek further collaboration and strengthening of the existing relationship with the Navy. It is our opinion that if the navy is assisted adequately, NOSDRA will be highly improved”, he said.