AFRICA

NIMASA: Offshore Waste Management Will Enhance Nigerian Economic Growth

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has noted that the federal government waste management project with XPO Marine Services Limited will enhance the economic growth of the country.

XPO Marine Services, a provider of offshore marine support services to the oil and gas industry, recently entered a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the country for the establishment of an offshore waste recovery facility.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, at the commencement of the implementation phase of the offshore waste reception facility (OWRF) project for Nigeria’s waters, Deputy Director and Head PPP Unit, NIMASA, Mr Kabiru Diso, explained that the partnership with XPO Marine will help address the major challenges in Nigeria waters.

Diso also stated that the engagement will ensure that the waters are no longer a dumping ground of all kinds of wastes generated from the ships and other installations on Nigeria’s waters.

According to the NIMASA deputy director, “Today is a remarkable day, not just because we are handing over the site for the commencement of this project but it is remarkable as it heralds the success and commitment of the entities from the public sector and private sector coming together to achieve a common goal of proper, effective and efficient collection and disposal of waste on our waters through a private company incorporated under the law of the Federal Government.

“We have commissioned the implementation stage of the OWRF contract but for having an opportunity for the country to be able to discharge its function under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) obligation through PPP arrangement.

He said “The concessionaire is to ensure that ships and platform comply to MARPOL 73/78 as amended and in line with global best practice.

“The positive impact of what we are starting today is going to be tremendous, not only for the marine environment but will support the economic growth of the country”.

Diso added that the PPP arrangement is one of the best things that would happen to Nigeria especially at this time when the country is having economic crunch regarding the money that is coming into the Federation Account.

“So, under this arrangement, NIMASA and the Federal Government will generate income and new jobs will be created. This project will be of benefit for all Nigerians”.

Earlier, the Managing Director, Offshore Pollution Control (XPO) Marine Services, Mr Wellington Agharese said with the partnership, the federal government would be taking a bold step to collect all the waste that are generated from ships and other platforms operated by IOCs and NOCs, so that they can be treated in an acceptable manner and disposed of according to MARPOL convention.

Agharese however, said with the new development on water waste management, shipping, maritime, IOCs and NOCs community will no longer throw waste away on the waters or ashore. “Now the waste has to be treated according to MARPOL convention by meeting the offshore reception facility requirement that XPO will do in collaboration with NIMASA to implement.”

On revenue generation, he said “The concessionaire agreement with XPO Marine is for 10 years. For every revenue XPO marine makes in the collection of waste, the company will keep 60 per cent, 20 per cent will go to the Federal Government and 20 per cent will go to NIMASA”.

On his part, the Zonal Coordinator, Eastern Zone, NIMASA, Yusuf Barde said “We have mechanisms of ensuring that we supervise that activities of XPO Marine are in line with the mandate given to them. So, the concessionaire will be monitored regularly to ensure they meet their side of the bargain”.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt