Abuja: The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) is collaborating with the European Union in the areas of oil spill response and environmental protection in the country’s oil-producing regions. This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward international partnership following a strategic engagement meeting with the European Union (EU) Delegation, held at the EU office.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting was led by the Director General of NOSDRA, Chukwuemeka Woke, and focused on forging a strategic alliance with the EU to strengthen the agency’s institutional mandate. Priority areas for collaboration discussed during the meeting included the development of a robust environmental impact assessment and remediation framework for artisanal refining sites, the deployment of in-situ oil spill response equipment and tools, and the enhancement of human capacity through structured training and retraining initiatives.

This partnership aims to address persistent environmental threats, particularly the challenges posed by illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refining, which have devastated oil-producing communities across Nigeria. “The main objective of this visit is to seek strategic collaboration with the EU to help escalate the challenges we face, particularly the issues of illegal bunkering and artisanal refineries. With the support of the Nigerian government and the European Union, we believe we can eliminate the suffering of people living in oil spill-impacted areas and attract stronger international commitment to environmental justice,” Woke said.

The NOSDRA DG noted that effective international collaboration would not only bring global attention to the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta and other oil-producing regions but also drive impactful policy reforms and resource mobilization needed for long-term remediation and sustainable development.