Abuja: The Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chukwuemeka Woke, has issued a critical warning to youths in the Niger Delta about the severe implications of oil spillages on human health, the environment, and local aquatic resources.
He gave the warning when he received a delegation from the Niger Delta Progressive Youth Leadership Foundation (ND-PYLF) in his office on Thursday in Abuja.
Woke stated that most oil spillages in the region are caused by third-party activities, such as pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering, emphasising that these actions not only harm the environment but also pose a significant threat to lives.
“The consequences of oil spillages are enormous. Beyond environmental degradation, they result in serious health hazards and the near extinction of aquatic life, making it increasingly difficult for communities to access fresh fish and other sources of livelihood from the rivers,” he said.
The DG emphasised that NOSDRA, as a government regulatory agency, was committed to ensuring that oil companies responsible for spillages are held accountable and made to pay damages.
He thanked the youth leaders for their visit and expressed optimism for stronger collaboration with the Foundation.
He also urged them to intensify efforts in sensitising communities about the dangers of pipeline vandalisation and illegal bunkering, which, he said, remain major contributors to oil spill incidents in the region.
In his remarks, Chief Adam Mambo, President of ND-PYLF, commended NOSDRA for its critical role in safeguarding the environment from oil spills and other hydrocarbon-related pollution.
He explained that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen ties with the agency and support its mandate.
According to him, the Foundation, established on Sept. 13, serves as a grassroots platform uniting Niger Delta ethnic nationalists across nine states of the region, as well as parts of the South-West and South-East geopolitical zones.
He said that the body focuses on addressing issues such as environmental degradation, oil spills, community crises, and the activities of oil companies in the region.