Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Government has restated its readiness and commitment to environmental sustainability and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
The Federal Government stressed this commitment with the relaunch of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Map and the unveiling of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Compendium of Achievements.
In his keynote address at the ceremony in Abuja, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal described the event as a reflection of Nigeria’s collective resolve to protect the environment, strengthen institutional accountability and uphold sustainable development.
According to the minister, the compendium and updated ESI Map provide a transparent record of NOSDRA’s performance and growth, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, which emphasises evidence-based environmental governance and data-driven decision-making.
His words: “This initiative is not merely a documentation of achievements but a demonstration of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to environmental accountability and sustainable resource management,”
He lauded the leadership of NOSDRA for its leadership and innovation in oil spill detection and response, citing tools such as the Oil Spill Monitor, Gas Flare Tracker and Satellite-Based Methane Emission Tracker as examples of how technology is being deployed to enhance efficiency and transparency in environmental management.
Furthermore, Lawal praised NOSDRA’s consecutive recognition as the top-performing agency among over 500 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the 2023 and 2024 Nigeria Transparency and Integrity Index among its recent accomplishments.
He noted that the achievement reflects the impact of President Tinubu’s reforms aimed at improving public sector accountability.
In addition, Lawal stated that NOSDRA achieved notable field results during the review period, including 1,424 Joint Investigation Visits (JIVs), recovery of 15,980 barrels of crude oil from 1,512 recorded spills and oversight of major cleanup operations such as Bodo and Ogoni (HYPREP Phase One), leading to the issuance of 660 ‘close-out’ certificates.
The minister bemoans the menace and the persistence of artisanal refining, which accounts for about 82 per cent of oil spills, and urged NOSDRA to intensify community engagement, enforcement, and surveillance to reduce the problem.
“Economic growth must not come at the cost of ecological degradation,” Lawal said, emphasising the need for collective action to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable oil and gas industry”, he said.
Director-general of NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, in his presentation, outlined the agency’s progress under three strategic pillars: institutional excellence and governance, digital transformation and capacity-building, and operational action for environmental justice.
Woke noted that NOSDRA’s top ranking in transparency and integrity was supported by legal victories, enhanced partnerships with the European Union, and the expansion of collaborations aimed at deploying cleaner and more efficient spill response technologies.
He said :“Each legal victory and partnership strengthens the rule of law in environmental protection and restores investor confidence in Nigeria’s environmental oversight,”
The DG highlighted the agency’s digital transformation drive, including the launch of a NOSDRA E-Learning Platform, satellite-based surveillance for methane and gas flare tracking and adoption of remote sensing technologies to support Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and Methane Abatement Framework.
On environmental justice, Woke cited NOSDRA’s forensic investigation into the Ibeno mystery spill, oversight of the Ogoni Bodo cleanup and certification of remediation grids under HYPREP’s first and second phases as evidence of its commitment to science-based enforcement.
“Environmental justice is not just a technical issue; it is a moral imperative. Communities in oil-producing areas deserve clean air, safe water, and healthy soil,” Woke said.
The relaunch of the Environmental Sensitivity Index Map, a geospatial tool identifying ecologically and socio-economically sensitive areas across Nigeria’s coastline and inland ecosystem, was the key highlight of the event.
Woke explained that the updated ESI Map integrates modern geospatial data and local intelligence to enhance oil spill preparedness and response coordination among agencies, including NOSDRA, NUPRC, NMDPRA, NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy.
According to Woke, the relaunch aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC 1990) and the Abidjan Convention, reinforcing the nation’s proactive approach to environmental stewardship.
The DG said the achievements captured in the Compendium reflect NOSDRA’s alignment with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, stressing that institutional reform and technological innovation are vital to achieving a cleaner and more responsible petroleum industry.
“Every milestone we have achieved, from transparency rankings to digital transformation, demonstrates that when institutions are strengthened, hope becomes measurable and progress becomes inevitable,” Woke said.
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