The Federal Government, on Wednesday, rallied all stakeholders in the oil industry with the inauguration of the Joint Project Management Committee (JPMC) for the First Nigeria International Oil Spill Summit and Expo (NIOSS), in Abuja.
This is just as the Federal Government also unveiled the official logo and formal commencement of preparations for the international conference.
George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that the noble initiative, which was spearheaded by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in collaboration with Green Clean Innovation Hub Limited (GCHI), was in response to the numerous reported cases of oil spillage with its attendant consequences on the lives of the affected communities, which cannot be overlooked.
Akume, who was represented by Ibrahim Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the initiative came at a critical moment in Nigeria’s environmental and economic history.
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He noted that “For decades, the nation has borne the heavy burden of oil spill incidents, with over one thousand reported cases annually and an estimated thirteen million barrels of crude oil spilled over time.
“The dire consequences — including environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, destruction of livelihoods, public health challenges, and significant economic setbacks — are far too grave to ignore.”
He charged the nine-member Committee to discharge its responsibility with professionalism, patriotism, and a strong sense of purpose.
Akume assured that the NIOSS would strengthen national and sub-national oil spill preparedness and response capacity; foster innovation, technology transfer, and investment in environmental protection; promote collaboration among government, industry, host communities, academia, and international partners; and demonstrate Nigeria’s leadership in oil spill response, coastal restoration, and climate action.
He added that the Government is fully in support of science-driven, inclusive, and community-centred solutions that protect natural resources while sustaining livelihoods.
Chukwuemeka Woke, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to strengthening oil spill prevention, response, and environmental restoration through the inauguration of the Nigeria International Oil Spill Summit & Expo (NIOSS 2026).
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He explained that the International Oil Spill Summit & Expo (NIOSS) is a premier multi-stakeholder platform designed to convene government leaders, oil and gas industry operators, research institutions, investors, host community representatives, and environmental advocates to build sustainable strategies for oil spill prevention, emergency response, and ecosystem recovery.
Meanwhile, the Biseni Community and an environmental advocacy group, the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), raised the alarm over a massive oil spill that had flooded a lake in the Biseni axis of Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.
A field Report by Alagoa Morris, a renowned Environmentalist and Deputy Executive Director of EDEN, following a site visit on February 14 and made available to BusinessDay, said the oil spill had flooded the Fazino lake and destroyed a lot of aquatic life.
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and Nigeria Agip Oil Company operated the oil assets in the area for decades before their divestment to Renaissance Africa Energy Company and Oando PLC, respectively.
Morris, however, said the oil spill was from an Oando facility, although a Renaissance Africa Energy Company facility in the area was showing signs of failure.
He noted in his report that, “In terms of the negative impacts of the oil industry operations, Biseni has had much experience from oil spillages. And due to the topography of the environment, most of the spill incidents spread to impact natural bodies of water such as lakes, brooks and fish ponds, besides farmlands.
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“Depending largely on the environment for their means of livelihood, incidents such as crude oil spills are a major source of concern to the people. Apart from related health implications, herein lies the significance of any oil spillage in the environment.”.
He disclosed that both photographs and short video clips of the oil spill site were geo-stamped to authenticate the report.
Testimonies from indigenes of the area, including Kimemiah Benjamin, Aye Preye and Agah Lucky, who are the Chairman, Secretary and Deputy Clerk of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Biseni, urged the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and Federal Ministry of Environment to come to their aid.
Kimemiah Benjamin lamented: “As you can see, it is very clear. I am here in the Fazino environment. Our people normally feed from this lake. But you can see it is covered by the black gold.
