30 October 2016, Lagos — In a bid to deal with the menace of oil spillage particularly in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government had unveiled new technology that would aid in rapid response to the oil spill and prevent the further degradation of the environment.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Aisha Mohammed explained that the modeling technique would help determine the direction of the oil spill in the maritime environment.
Mohammed disclosed this at a two-day National Workshop on Oil Spill Trajectory Modelling in Maritime Environment in Nigeria, in Abuja.
Represented by Director-General of NOSDRA, Mr. Peter Idabor, the Minister attributed the increasing level of oil spillage in Nigeria to illegal bunkering activities, artisanal refining, oil theft and armed militancy.
According to her, “The use of oil spill modeling techniques in predicting the direction of movement of spilled oil in the marine environment is quite a laudable innovation. Although it is difficult to accurately predict or simulate actual events, this tool presents a very valuable opportunity for both oil spill preparedness and response activities.
*Caleb Ayansina – Vanguard
