The Director General of the National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chukwuemeka Woke, led a critical assessment visit to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The visit aimed to evaluate SPDC’s efforts in managing the recent oil spill incident in Oputumbi Community in Bonny Local Government Area, which affected several other communities including West Africa’s biggest fish market, Oyorokoto Community in the Andoni Local Government Area.

Woke expressed appreciation for SPDC’s proactive steps, stressing the importance of not only stopping further leakage but also alleviating community distress and preventing the spill’s spread.

“Our presence here ahead of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) scheduled for tomorrow underscores our commitment to ensuring the site’s readiness for addressing the containment strategies.

“It is imperative that we assess both the immediate measures and long-term plans to manage and remediate the spill’s effects.”

Throughout the visit, NOSDRA underscored its dual role of environmental stewardship and rapid response capability.

Woke highlighted their recent provisional approval for the use of dispersants to control the spill, reinforcing NOSDRA’s dedication to minimizing ecological damage and collaborating closely with industry partners for effective solutions.

NOSDRA’S Director of Planning, Policy Analysis, and Research, Dr. Sola Oladipo also stressed NOSDRA’s concern over potential shoreline breaches, reinforcing the agency’s focus on preventing further environmental degradation and safeguarding national interests.

In response, Commander of Emergency Response at Shell Nigeria, Abatam Nwosu reiterated SPDC’s commitment to prioritising community safety and environmental protection. “Our protocols are stringent, focusing first on human safety and environmental integrity,” said Nwosu.

“We’ve enacted multiple responsive actions, including containment via maritime vessels, though pinpointing leak origins in open waters is complex. We are working in alignment with NOSDRA and appreciate continued support, especially in conducting source analysis.”

He further elaborated on the complexities involved, mentioning potential additional spillage from an NNPC pipeline and the necessity for analytical sampling to ascertain spill origins amidst multiple operational activities offshore.

The visit concluded with a reinforced commitment to sustained cooperation, aiming to enhance both immediate response measures and long-term environmental recovery strategies.