Lawmakers seek criminal liability, tighter penalties for oil spill

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The Senate has moved to strengthen accountability for oil pollution in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, approving amendments to the law establishing the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to provide for stiffer fines and criminal sanctions against violators.

According to the lawmakers, the proposed changes are aimed at addressing the persistent destruction of the environment in the Niger Delta, where oil spills have damaged farmlands, polluted fishing waters and undermined the livelihoods of communities in oil-producing areas.

This followed the Senate’s approval of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after considering and adopting the report of its Committee on Environment.

Presenting the report on behalf of the committee chairman, Olubiyi Fadeyi, the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, said the existing penalties had proved inadequate in discouraging oil spill violations.

He added that the amendment was necessary to give the agency stronger legal backing to enforce environmental standards and hold those responsible for pollution accountable.

“The fines are not deterrent enough to deter offenders,” Monguno told the Senate, making a case for tougher sanctions against those whose activities cause environmental damage.

He explained that the proposed law would introduce criminal liability for oil spills that damage the environment and deprive residents of their means of livelihood.

The amendment seeks to revise the NOSDRA Establishment Act, 2006, by providing a stronger sanctions regime for violations in the petroleum sector.

Furthermore, the legislation is expected to enhance the agency’s ability to enforce compliance and strengthen the legal framework for responding to oil spills, particularly in communities bearing the consequences of petroleum-related pollution.

The Senate considered the bill clause by clause at the Committee of the Whole, approving all 12 clauses, including the short title, explanatory memorandum and long title.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed after the Senate returned to plenary.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Committee on Environment for its work and congratulated NOSDRA on the additional enforcement powers provided by the legislation.