1.
What is NOSDRA?
NOSDRA means National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency.
2. Who owns NOSDRA?
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), a Federal
Government parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing
and Urban development, was established under the National Oil Spill
Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act 15, 2006 as the institutional
framework for the implementation of the National Oil Spill Contingency
Plan.
3. Vision Statement of NOSDRA
“To create, nurture and sustain a zero tolerance oil spill incident
in the Nigerian Environment”
4. Mission Statement of NOSDRA
“To restore and preserve our environment by ensuring best Oil
field, storage and transmission practices in exploration, production
and use of oil in the quest to achieve sustainable development in Nigeria”
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5. What are the objectives
of NOSDRA?
- Establish a viable national operational organization that ensures
a safe, timely, effective and appropriate response to all oil pollution
in Nigeria;
- Identify high-risk as well as priority areas for protection and
clean up;
- Maximize the effective use of the available facilities and resources
of corporate bodies, their international connections and oil spill
cooperatives i.e. Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA) in implementing
appropriate spill response;
- Ensure funding, appropriate and sufficient pre-positioned pollution
combating equipment and materials, as well as functional communication
network system required for effective response to major oil pollution;
- Ensure a programme of activation, training and drill exercises
to ensure readiness to oil pollution preparedness and the management
of operational personnel;
- Co-operate and provide advisory services, technical support and
equipment for purposes of responding to major oil pollution incident
in the West African sub-region upon request by any neighbouring
country, particularly where a part of the Nigerian territory may
be threatened;
- Provide support for research and development (R&D) in the
local development of methods, materials and equipment for oil spill
detection; and
- Carry out such other activities as are necessary or expedient
for the full discharge of its functions and the execution of the
Plan.
6. What are the key functions of NOSDRA?
- Responsible for surveillance and ensuring compliance with all
existing environmental legislation and the detection of oil spills
in the Petroleum Sector;
- Receive reports of oil spillages and coordinate oil spill response
activities throughout Nigeria;
- Co-ordinate the implementation of the NOSCP as may be formulated,
from time to time, by the Federal Government;
- Co-ordinate the implementation of the NOSCP for the removal of
hazardous substance as may be issued by the Federal Government;
- Encourage regional co-operation among member States of West African
Subregion and Gulf of Guinea for combating oil spillage and pollution
in our contiguous waters.
7. What is the National Oil Spill Contingency
Plan?
The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) is a blueprint/manual
for checking oil spill through, containment, recovery, and remediation/restoration.
It is a proactive strategy for preventing loss of lives, assets and
natural resources. The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan is mandatory
for all parties to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness
and Response Co-operation (OPRC 90) which Nigeria has ratified.
8. What is the tier-response system?
The tier-response system is a plan used to monitor and co-ordinate respond
to oil spills in Nigeria. There are 3 tiers.
Tier-One
Operational type spills, less than or equal to 7 metric tons (50 barrels),
that may occur at or near a company’s own facility.
Tier-Two
A large spill, greater than 7 metric tons (50 barrels) but less than
700 metric tons (5000 barrels), in the vicinity of a company’s
facility where resources from another company, industry and possible
government response Agencies in the area can be called in, on a mutual
aid basis.
Tier-Three
The large spill, greater than 700 metric tons (5000 barrels), where
substantial further resources will be required and support from a National
(Tier 3) or International Co-operative Stockpile, like the Oil Spill
Response Limited (OSRL), may be necessary. Such operation is subject
to government control and direction.
9. How is the Agency funded?
The Agency is primarily supported by subvention from the Federal Government
of Nigeria. Other sources of funding include: fees/ charges for services
rendered and grants from national and international organizations.
10. What penalties exist for failure to clean-up
oil spill?
An oil spiller is by the NOSDRA Act to report an oil spill to the Agency
in writing not later than 24 hours after the occurrence of an oil spill,
in default of which the failure to report shall attract a penalty in
the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (?500,000.00) for each day of
failure to report the occurrence.
The failure to clean up the impacted site, to all practical
extent shall attract a further fine of One Million Naira (?1,000,000.00).
11. Does NOSDRA pay compensation to oil-spill
impacted communities?
No. It is not the responsibility of the Agency to pay compensation to
oil spill impacted communities. The Agency, however, may assess or assist
in the assessment of damages caused by the spill. The defaulting oil
company or party is responsible for payment of compensation on the basis
of polluter-pays-principle.
For further information, please send an e-mail to info@nosdra.org
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