Worried about the persistent problem of oil spills in Nigeria, the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has asked the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to explain what steps his ministry has taken to engage international oil companies (IOCs), particularly multinational firms such as Shell, to ensure proper environmental cleanup in affected communities.

She raised the issue on Tuesday during a budget defence session at the National Assembly, where the minister and heads of agencies under his supervision appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.

Highlighting the environmental consequences of decades of oil exploration and their impact on Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations, Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that official records indicate that more than 7,000 oil spills have occurred since commercial oil production began in 1958.

“Since 1958, Nigeria has recorded over 7,000 oil spills. With the number of policies introduced over the years, one would have expected this to be a thing of the past. The Niger Delta has suffered immense damage, and although some remediation efforts have been made, farmers and fishermen remain the worst affected,” she said.

The senator asked the minister to clarify how his ministry has engaged IOCs, especially Shell, to ensure that cleanup operations in oil-polluted communities are effectively carried out.

She stressed that environmental sustainability is critical to the success of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy strategy, warning that persistent pollution could undermine the country’s development goals in the sector.

“The viability of a thriving green and blue economy depends largely on the health of our waters, waste management systems and marine ecosystems. I would like to know the specific measures your ministry has taken to work with the IOCs on remediation efforts,” she added.

Responding, Oyetola stated that the legal responsibility for addressing oil spills rests primarily with the Federal Ministry of Environment, though he acknowledged the need for inter-ministerial cooperation.

“Oil spillage is fundamentally an environmental issue and falls within the mandate of the Ministry of Environment,” he said. “That said, there is room for collaboration, and we can always work in synergy with the relevant ministry.”