BY Deborah Bodunde
The federal government and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have signed a concession agreement with XPO Marine Services Limited, to provide an offshore waste reception facility (OWRF) in the eastern part of the country.
In a statement issued by XPO Marine on Monday, the agreement seeks to fulfil laws providing for the operation of ship-generated marine waste reception facilities, to cater for waste and pollutants generated at sea.
The agreement, which was signed at the federal ministry of transport in Abuja, also seeks to fulfil the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships — MARPOL.
Wellington Agharese, the managing director of XPO Marine, said the firm was committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the OWRF project.
The OWRF project would help to eliminate pollution in Nigeria’s waters, increase infrastructure stock, generate revenue, transfer assets at the end of the concession period to the federal government, create employment and improve economic activities in the country.
The federal government also aims to meet its obligation of compliance with MARPOL’s policy of “zero tolerance of illegal discharges from ships”, which could only be effectively enforced when there are adequate facilities.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) marine environment protection committee also urged member states, particularly those parties to MARPOL as port states, including Nigeria, to fulfil their treaty obligations on providing adequate waste reception facilities.
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