By DESMOND EJIBAS

The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the Offshore Waste Reception Facility (OWRF) to stop the dumping of toxic and human waste in Nigeria’s waters.

The Federal Government had in May 2023 signed a concession agreement with XPO Marine Services Limited to end decades of indiscriminate waste disposal by ships and rig platforms in the nation’s Eastern waters.

Mr Kabiru Diso, Deputy Director/Head of Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said this during the handover of the project site to XPO Marine in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

Diso, stated that the handover of the OWRF project was in compliance with the MARPOL Convention, which aims to prevent maritime pollution caused by ships.

“Through NIMASA’s partnership with XPO Marine, our waters will no longer be a dumping ground for all kinds of wastes generated from ships and platforms.

“The company will ensure the efficient and timely collection and disposal of waste in our waters.

“So, today marks a significant milestone, not only because of the project’s commencement, but also because it signifies the collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve a common goal,” he said.

Diso said that prior to the project’s implementation, both International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Nigerian Oil Companies (NOCs) disposed their waste at sea due to the absence of a waste collection system in the country.

“So, the PPP arrangement will support Nigeria’s economic growth, especially at this time when the country is facing serious economic crunch.

“The concession agreement spans 10 years, with XPO Marine receiving 60 per cent of revenue collected, the Federal Government obtaining 20 per cent, and NIMASA receiving 20 per cent,” he added.

Yusuf Barde, NIMASA Zonal Coordinator for the Eastern Zone, said that the agency would monitor activities of the concessionaire to ensure the company complies with its mandate.

He said that NIMASA would enforce compliance among the IOCs and NOCs to end decades of pollution in Nigeria’s maritime environment.

The Managing Director of XPO Marine, Wellington Agharese, said that Nigeria’s status as the largest oil producer in Africa was reason for the high volume of activities in its waters.

He said that the movement of oil tankers and offshore oil rig operations posed a threat to the maritime environment.

“Therefore, XPO Marine will collect waste from ships and platforms under Annexes one, two (oil waste), four (sewage), five (garbage) and six (Ozone depleting substances and exhaust gas cleaning residues).

“We will collect, document, treat and dispose of the waste, and ultimately issuing a disposal certificate for each waste disposed of.

“In essence, our operations will mirror the activities of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in Lagos, where trucks move from house-to-house to collect and dispose waste,” he explained.

Aggarese further said that the project would create over 10,000 direct and indirect job opportunities for Nigerians.

“We warn shippers, IOCs, NOCs and the entire maritime community that they can no longer discharge their waste into the aquatic environment.

“We will move from ship to ship and platform to platform, collecting and disposing of waste according to established procedures to safeguard our maritime environment.

“This concession arrangement is a win-win for the environment, communities, and the government,” he concluded. (NAN)

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