By Steve Agbota
A massive oil spill has been confirmed on the Egina floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) approximately 150km off the coast of Nigeria in Gulf of Guinea.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a statement issued Wednesday, said its officials are “closely monitoring the crude oil spill incident which took place during loading operations in Egina on November 15 2023 at about 6:30am.”
NIMASA said it is working closely with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from the crisis management room, where the spill is being monitored real time using oil spill monitoring software from the emergency response centre.
“Though the volume of spill is not yet confirmed, Total Energies is providing aerial surveillance, dispersant application, while further mobilisation is being considered. The Oil Spill Response Limited from the United Kingdom is also assisting with pollution control measures. Reconnaissance survey of the impacted area confirms that the shoreline communities of Andoni, Qua-Iboe terminals, Bonny Island, Opobo/Nkoro and Eastern Obolo, which are closest to Egina, are not yet affected,” the agency said in the statement signed by its spokesperson, Osagie Edward.
“Since the incident happened, our men have been liaising with other organs of government to ensure the pollution is effectively controlled and managed, to protect the marine environment and the communities close to the incident point.
“Accidents do happen, it’s what we do thereafter that matters and I believe that Total, working with NIMASA, NUPRC, NOSDRA and collaborating with international service providers, will surely ensure proper management of the spill,” NIMASA Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, was quoted as saying.