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FG Asks for Improved Environmental Regulatory Framework

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FG Asks for Improved Environmental Regulatory Framework

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has asked the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and other stakeholders to improve on environmental regulatory framework and use of cleaner technologies for sustainable future.

Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako gave the charge on Thursday at the Maiden Environmental Performance Award for the Oil and Gas sector in Abuja.

The event was organised by NOSDRA in collaboration with the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), an NGO.

Salako identified effective environmental regulatory mechanism in the petroleum industry as essential for sustainable resource management, climate change mitigation, economic efficiency and accountability.

The minister said that such mechanism was also crucial for building public trust for operational social licencing, legal and international compliance.

He said that oil and gas was unarguably the world’s most vital, but most environmentally disruptive industry.

Salako, however, stressed the need for effective regulation of the sector to ensure that the benefits of oil and gas production were balanced.

He said: “Also, there is the need to protect the environment, maintain public health and contribute to national development on a sustainable manner.”

The minister said that the country had faced significant challenges and limitations in managing and responding to oil spills resulting in consequential land degradation prior to the establishment of NOSDRA in October 2006.

He said that the situation was characterised by a lack of cohesive policy, inefficient coordination among stakeholders and inadequate resources to effectively address oil spill incidents particularly in the Niger-Delta region.

“Nigeria is faced with a fragmented regulatory framework, inadequate preparedness and response, limited community engagement negative environmental and health impacts, adverse economic consequences, among others.

“Since the establishment of NOSDRA, it has been working in the area of spill preparedness, response, cleanup and remediation among others.

“Over the years, NOSDRA has remained unwavering in delivering on its mandate, responding to thousands of major and minor oil spills, ensuring that impacted communities are adequately compensated and remediated.

“Non-complying oil operators are taking to court to enforce compliance,” he said.

He added that environmental performance award serves as a multi-faceted tool aimed at driving change, promoting sustainability and acknowledging those that lead by example.

According to him, the award also addresses historical environmental goals; enhances community relations, boosts innovations and offers reputational requirement and investment.

The event was also an avenue to bestow the environmental sustainability performance award on oil, gas industry players by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN).

The Director-General of NOSDRA, Idris Musa, said that the awards are a testament to stakeholders’ collective commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation and pursuit of excellence within the oil and gas industry.

Musa said this at the maiden edition of the award for the Oil and Gas sector on Thursday in Abuja.

Some of the awardees are TotalEnergy, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Agip oil while Akwa-Ibom received the best environmental-friendly state award.

He said that the award was to recognise the organisation with the best environmental performance for 2022 and 2023.

Musa said that the performance award was conceived to highlight and reward those that have taken bold steps to address environmental challenges.

“It is to showcase significant progress we can achieve when we commit to responsible practices. This initiative also reflects our understanding of the path to sustainability and the need to work together.

” It requires collaboration among industry operators, regulatory bodies, local communities and international partners, “he said

Musa said that by sharing best practices and leveraging on new technologies among others, the nation could drive the transformative change needed to secure a sustainable future for the oil and gas industry.

He said that NOSDRA plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment from the potential devastations arising from the operations of the oil and gas industry.

Musa explained that 73 companies were assessed from 2022 to 2023 based on performance variables, which included submission of incident reporting forms

Other variables are the inventory of spill response equipment stockpiles as a function of preparedness for response.

He said the award is grouped into four categories which included the best environmental performance for both local and international oil companies.

Others are most environmentally-friendly states as well as awards for the 2019 and 2020 Environmental Performance Index carried out by SDN.

Country Director, SDN, Florence IbokAbasi, said the organisation’s collaboration with NOSDRA was to encourage improved environmental performance in the oil and gas sector.

She advocated for innovation and technical initiatives that would result in reduced oil spills and gas flare in the industry.

IbokAbasi identified some of the challenges in the industry as oil theft, sabotage and insecurity.

She said SDN was collaborating with relevant stakeholders including government agencies, and communities to ensure improved pollution reporting and a safer environment.

Chairman/Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit, Jim Swartz, a recipient of the award, said the organisation has been marked by continuous improvement, innovations and collaboration.

He was represented by Sam Daibo, Director, Government Affairs, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA).

“As we celebrate this environmental protection award, we re-echo our commitment to the partnership with NOSDRA and other stakeholders.

“The partnership is enhancing good environmental practices. Together we can build a sustainable future for Nigeria,“he said.

FG Asks for Improved Environmental Regulatory Framework

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Hunter kills one, injures two in accidental shooting in Katsina

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Hunter kills one, injures two in accidental shooting in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police Command in Katsina State says it has arrested a 25-year-old hunter, Bashir Bala, for allegedly shooting three civilians, leading to the death of one person in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.

Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Thursday at about 4:10 p.m. when Bala, a member of a hunters’ group attached to the security personnel in Malumfashi, visited a known blackspot at Marabar Kankara to purchase cannabis.

According to the report, an argument ensued during which Bala discharged his rifle, striking three civilians.

“One civilian was confirmed dead at the scene while two others sustained gunshot injuries. The injured victims were rushed to the General Hospital for medical attention while the deceased’s body was released to his family after medical certification.

“A joint team comprising Police, the Nigerian Army and vigilantes responded to the scene, and the suspect has been apprehended. Security measures within the area of responsibility have also been reinforced,” the sources said.

Hunter kills one, injures two in accidental shooting in Katsina

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Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA neutralise seven bandits in Katsina

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Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA neutralise seven bandits in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have neutralised seven armed bandits and recovered four motorcycles during a decisive operation in Baba, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The encounter, which lasted for over two hours on Thursday, followed credible intelligence on the movement of criminal elements terrorising farming communities in the area. Security sources said the troops engaged the bandits, killing seven while the remaining suspects fled with gunshot injuries.

Four motorcycles used in their criminal activities were recovered during the operation.

The military operation is part of ongoing efforts across frontline local government areas to dismantle criminal hideouts and ensure the safety of residents, especially farming communities during the rainy season.

Residents were urged to continue providing timely information to security agencies to support ongoing operations and help restore peace across the North West.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA neutralise seven bandits in Katsina

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Yobe records progress under Governor Buni—Hon. Usman Gimba

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Yobe records progress under Governor Buni—Hon. Usman Gimba

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State, under His Excellency Governor, Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, Chiroman Gujba, has recorded measurable progress in various sectors, viz., education, health, agriculture, and other social and economic empowerment initiatives in the state.

This was revealed by the Senior Special Assistant to His Excellency Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON COMN on youth and sports, Hon. Usman Gimba (Sarkin Adon Gubana), at the graduation ceremony of Shettiman Malamai School for Marriage Education in Potiskum.

He said under the governorship of my boss, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni CON, Yobe State is experiencing a giant transformation in the development of infrastructure, human capital, and agriculture.

According to Sarkin Adon Gubana, upon the inauguration of Governor Buni into office, he had set out to create an educated and a well-secured and empowered society with access to the education sector.

At the graduation ceremony, Hon. Gimba said, “What we need in the community is for all of us to be educated, including those who were in the school and those that are in the house, and this school consists of teaching those that are in the house.”

He maintained that the importance of sound and qualitative education to the growth and development of any human society needs not to be emphasized. Adding to that, the school consists of women, but wisely, we also need men; we need the education.

“Because this school is for marriage education only, but we men ourselves need it because we need to be educated on how we can handle our wives when we are married, he charged the students to make good use of what they learned from the school,” Sarkin Adon Gubana said.

The Senior Special Assistant on Youths and Sports thanks the CEO, Malam Abdurazak Abdullahi Usman, for making this gigantic initiative and calls on our leaders—traditional, politicians, and religious—to come out en masse to support the school to move forward.

Yobe records progress under Governor Buni—Hon. Usman Gimba

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