The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling offshore waste as part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s blue economy.
Gatekeepers News reports that on Monday at a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on offshore waste reception facilities in Port Harcourt, Fatai Adeyemi, NIMASA’s executive director of operations, stressed that Nigeria’s offshore environment is critical to industries, livelihoods, and national growth.
He, however, warned that waste from offshore operations poses serious risks to marine life, public health, and navigational safety.
“The objective of today’s programme is to increase awareness and strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure waste reception and disposal meet the highest environmental standards,” Adeyemi said.
“By doing so, we are not only protecting our oceans but also aligning with global best practices and international maritime regulations.”
Adeyemi noted that the agency will continue to enforce measures that support a cleaner marine environment and ensure compliance with international conventions.
Protecting Marine Resources
Dimowo Heaky, director of marine environment management at NIMASA, described the initiative as a crucial step in safeguarding Nigeria’s marine resources.
He warned that all forms of ship-borne waste—ranging from oily residues and sewage to noxious liquids—pose severe threats to ecosystems and coastal communities.
Heaky stressed the importance of translating regulations into practical compliance.
Wellington Agharese, managing director of XPO Marine, the concessionaire for offshore waste reception facilities in Nigeria’s eastern region, said the project goes beyond regulatory compliance.
“This is both an operational mandate and a commitment to environmental responsibility,” Agharese said, adding that stronger collaboration between regulators, international oil companies, national oil companies, and local operators would help make Nigeria a global model for offshore environmental compliance.
