PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Trains 64 Nigerian Environmental Officers on Oil Spill Detection and Recovery

Date: January 29, 2009
Venue: Abuja

EPA Scientist Michael Solceki trains NOSDRA staff  | Full size

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Specialist and 2009 Science Fellow Michael Solecki is in Nigeria for 12 weeks providing technical assistance and training for several organizations.  Under the program, twenty one mid-level environmental officers from the National Oil Spill Detention and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Pipeline Product Marketing Company (PPMC) have received three-weeks of training on oil spill prevention, clean-up and restoration methods and techniques.
 
Mr. Solecki will conduct similar training for 43 NOSDRA environmental officers from the Delta region in Lagos from February 2 – 13.  The two-week program is a direct response to NOSDRA’s request for U.S. assistance in building the capacity of its young workforce. 

The trainees in Abuja received practical training through a field visit to an oil spill located along the Abuja-Lokoja expressway, where they gained first hand experience with combating oil spills.  Similar practical training will be included for the group from the Delta region. 

In March, Mr. Solecki is scheduled to provide training in emergency disaster management for personnel from the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency and students and faculty from the Federal Technical University of Nigeria in Minna, Niger State.   

According to Professor Bamidele Ajakaiye, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NOSDRA, the U.S.-sponsored capacity training program will help his agency fulfill its mandate to prevent oil spills and lead clean-up and restoration efforts of the affected areas. Two participants at the Abuja workshop described their experience as “good and timely” saying that the knowledge obtained through the training should in fact become a standard for everyone involved in oil spill management and environmental protection.  

Established by a Federal Act in 2006, NOSDRA works to prevent oil spills and conducts clean-up and restoration efforts of affected areas.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s collaboration with NOSDRA supports the U.S. Mission’s goal of partnering with Nigeria in protecting the Nigerian environment and encouraging sustainable economic development.