ENVIRONMENT Nigeria to host marine pollution control centre
The United Nations, recently in Abuja, handed Nigeria the notification letter to host the headquarters of regional coordination centre to combat marine pollution in West, Central and Southern Africa.
A representative of the Executive Secretary of United Nations Environment Programme, Mr. Abou Bamba, who handed over the notification to the Minister of Environment Mrs. Laurencia Mallam in Abuja, noted that the choice of Nigeria came after a long and difficult deliberation at the 11th meeting of the conference of the parties to the Abidjan Convention.
Bamba said Nigeria got the hosting right because it has a coastline of 853km, 9,000 km navigable inland waterways and it is the 6th largest oil producer in the world with over 50 years of experience in dealing with issues of pollution.
He added that political stability, qualified and capable staff and already established similar national centres were among the criteria considered for choosing Nigeria.
The function of the centre will be to collect and disseminate relevant information and to facilitate and co-ordinate international assistance in case of emergency amongst others.
The minister, speaking at the event, said: “We have the problem of gas flaring and pollution in Nigeria as well as in other countries of the world, we are doing our best to address the situation and the citing of the headquarters of the marine pollution in Nigeria will give us added advantage to combat the menace of pollution.”
She said the notification will be channeled to the appropriate authority and expressed hope that in six months the office would be commissioned.
“I want to assure you that Nigeria is equal to the task with the calibre of staff we have, we will not fail UNEP and other countries that are parties to it, it’s a great honour given to Nigeria for us to be recognised internationally to carry out this function of hosting the headquarters of pollution,” she said.
The citing of the headquarters of regional coordination centre to combat marine pollution in West, Central and Southern Africa is an indication that the capacity of Nigeria to tackle pollution will be enhanced, Sir Peter Idabor, Director General of National Oil Spill and Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA), had said.
Idabor said: “The Centre covers areas like Portugal and UK, it means that the capacity for Nigeria to tackle pollution will be enhanced , now Nigeria has joined the league of nations that will make it possible to respond effectively to any spill, especially in the marine environment.”
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