By: Theresa Donatus.

The Federal Government has lauded the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) for its remarkable contributions to environmental protection and oil spill management under the leadership of its Director-General, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke.

The commendation came from the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas-Lawal, during the official unveiling of the Compendium of Achievements and the relaunch of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Map held at the Abuja Continental Hotel recently.

In his keynote address, the Minister described the event as “a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to environmental accountability, transparency, and sustainable development” in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that both the Compendium and the upgraded ESI Map stand as verifiable evidence of NOSDRA’s data-driven approach to governance and environmental response.

“NOSDRA’s achievements reflect a new era of evidence-based environmental management in Nigeria, from data collection to response coordination, the Agency has set a benchmark for transparency and operational integrity,” the Minister said

Mallam Abbas-Lawal disclosed that NOSDRA had completed 1,424 Joint Investigation Visits (JIVs), recovered 15,980 barrels of crude oil from 1,512 spill incidents, and issued 660 Closeout Certificates for major remediation projects, including the Bodo clean-up and HYPREP intervention sites.

He also announced that NOSDRA ranked number one in Nigeria’s Transparency and Integrity Index for both 2023 and 2024, describing the feat as “a remarkable demonstration of institutional excellence and accountability.”

While acknowledging the Agency’s successes, the Minister raised concerns about the persistent challenge of artisanal refining, which he said accounts for about 82 percent of oil spills in Nigeria.

He urged NOSDRA to intensify its surveillance, enforcement, and community engagement efforts to mitigate the practice and its devastating environmental effects.

“The Ministry will continue to support NOSDRA in creating a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable oil and gas environment for the benefit of present and future generations,” the Minister assured.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the NOSDRA Governing Board, Mr. Edward Omo-Erewa, congratulated Engr. Woke and the management team, describing their performance as a model of professional excellence and teamwork.

“NOSDRA’s proactive approach and consistent recognition nationally and internationally are clear indicators of operational efficiency and sound leadership,” he stated.

In his opening remarks, Director-General Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke expressed appreciation to the Minister, the Board, and development partners for their support. He explained that the Compendium and ESI Map relaunch capture the Agency’s progress across policy formulation, capacity building, and enforcement mechanisms.

He highlighted NOSDRA’s growing reliance on technological innovation, referencing tools such as the Oil Spill Monitor, Gas Flare Tracker, and Methane Emission Tracker that enable real-time environmental monitoring.

“The upgraded ESI Map integrates both geospatial and socio-economic data; this will greatly enhance the speed, accuracy, and coordination of oil spill response and restoration efforts nationwide.” Engr. Woke said.

He attributed the Agency’s success to the collective dedication of staff and stakeholders, reaffirming NOSDRA’s resolve to uphold accountability, innovation, and environmental stewardship.

The event featured goodwill messages from development partners, civil society organizations, and environmental experts, who commended NOSDRA’s transparency, performance, and leadership.

Dignitaries later performed the joint unveiling of the Compendium of Achievements and the relaunched ESI Map, signaling a new phase in Nigeria’s pursuit of sustainable environmental management.