The Senate Committee on Environment yesterday said Nigeria had the highest number of oil spill incidences among oil producing countries with no penalty regime attached for such oil spills.
Speaking during a one-day public hearing on a Bill for an Act to amend the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Establishment (NOSDRA) Act, chairman of the Committee, Sen Bukola Saraki, described oil spill as an irresponsible environmental behaviour and reckless waste of people’s wealth and benefit.
In 2006, the National Assembly took the right decision to set up the NOSDRA, he said, and noted that the level of spills in Nigeria reflects the total disregard placed on the environment and the dignity of the people affected.
According to Saraki: “Oil spill is ravaging our environment and has become one of the greatest threats to our sustainable development. This amendment bill is a clarion call to us all to put a stop to this. The statistics of oil spills in Nigeria is shameful; the impact on the environment is offensive. It can no longer be business as usual.
“The Senate through this committee thinks it is time we departed from the ways of the past.
“This committee has noted that the level of spills in Nigeria reflect the total disregard placed on our environment and the dignity of our people.
“Without a doubt, oil spillage is dealt with all over the world as an environmental issue and a human right issue that goes to the quality of the environment and the value of life of those impacted by spills.”
He noted that it is erroneous to continue to view oil spills as a necessary consequence of oil exploration.
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