By Desire Uzochukwu
The Senate has passed a bill seeking tougher fines and criminal penalties for oil spill violations, in a move to strengthen environmental protection and enforcement in the petroleum sector.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed after the Senate adopted the report of its Committee on Environment.
The bill seeks to amend the 2006 NOSDRA Act to provide stronger legal backing for sanctions against oil spill offenders, particularly those whose activities damage the environment and livelihoods in oil-producing communities.
Presenting the committee’s report, Chairman, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, said persistent oil pollution in the Niger Delta had continued to threaten the environment and undermine fishing and farming activities.
The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North), stressed the need for tougher penalties, noting that existing fines had failed to deter violations.
“The fines are not deterrent enough to deter offenders,” Monguno told the Senate, adding that the amendment introduces criminal liability for spills that damage the environment and deprive residents of their means of livelihood.
The Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the bill clause by clause and approved all 12 clauses before reverting to plenary for its third reading and passage.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the Environment Committee for its work and congratulated NOSDRA on the additional enforcement powers provided by the legislation.
The bill is expected to strengthen NOSDRA’s capacity to enforce environmental regulations and hold oil spill offenders accountable.
