FG to use new innovation to tackle oil spillage

The Federal Government has made it known that it will adopt a new innovation to tackle oil spillage.

The Nation reports that the Minister of Environment, Hajia Amina Mohammed spoke yesterday in Abuja on government’s plan at a workshop on Oil Spill Trajectory Modelling in Maritime Environment.

She said the Federal Government would adopt the technology through the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to aid in quick response to oil spills in oil-producing states.

According to The Nation, the minister, who was represented by NOSDRA’s Director-General Peter Idabor, noted that the trajectory modelling technique would determine oil spill directions in the maritime environment and devising a quick response.

Hajia Mohammed said because of increasing level of oil spills caused by the activities of illegal bunkering, artisanal refining, oil theft and armed militancy, the trajectory modelling would as well reduce the impact of environmental degradation.

She said: “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.

“There is a growing level of oil spills caused mainly by the activities of illegal bunkering, artisanal refining, oil theft and armed militancy. There is need for development of capacity to deal with the challenges that may be presented by oil spills. This workshop is, therefore, timely and a welcome development.”

Source: The Nation