Nigeria Gets N1.372bn Equipment for Waterways Protection

• Nigeria Gets N1.372bn Equipment for Waterways Protection

Water and oil separation equipment valued at $4.5m (N1.372bn) has been deployed to save the nation’s waterways from pollution.

The equipment, which was recently installed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by Africa Circle Pollution Management Limited, a firm contracted by the Nigerian Ports Authority, is meant to evacuate wastes from vessels calling at the nation’s ports.

A former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, who is a director of the ACPML, explained that the deployment of the equipment was Nigeria’s response to the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation on marine waste management.

He said, “The International Maritime Organisation has a required convention that does not allow ships to dump wastes indiscriminately in the ocean and waterways. This is to protect the environment.

“The firm collects all kinds of wastes from vessels that ply Nigerian waterways and instead of just taking them to the dumpsites, the equipment treats the wastes in accordance to international standards and then recycles them.”

According to Osoba, the equipment purchased from France is highly technical and professional, and is one of the most modern marine pollution management equipment in Africa.

“Wastes were previously incinerated but IMO does not allow incineration of wastes anymore and that is why the equipment is being deployed,” he said.