Oil Spills Since 1958: Natasha Demands Action At Budget Hearing

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday faced a barrage of questions from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during the Marine Transport Joint Budget Defence, as lawmakers pressed for clarity on Nigeria’s response to persistent oil spills and their implications for the nation’s blue-economy ambitions.

Raising concerns on the floor of the hearing, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan focused on the environmental sustainability of Nigeria’s marine resources and the federal government’s engagement with international oil companies (IOCs).

“My question is going to be directed to the blue economy,” she said.

“Since 1958, Nigeria has suffered over 7,000 oil spills. One would have thought that, with the number of policies implemented, this would have become a thing of the past. The Niger Delta region has been severely impacted, and although some cleanup measures have been undertaken, our farmers and fishermen have borne the greatest burden.”

The senator further queried how the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy interfaces with oil operators, particularly multinational firms such as Shell, to ensure effective remediation and environmental restoration in affected coastal communities.

“My question to you, Honourable Minister, is this: how have you, in your capacity as minister of the Blue Economy, engaged the various IOCs, especially Shell, to ensure that oil-spill cleanup activities in the region are actually carried out?” she asked.

Emphasising the centrality of environmental protection to Nigeria’s marine-based economic aspirations, Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that ecological degradation poses a direct threat to the viability of the blue-economy project.

“The success of a thriving green-economy initiative is intricately linked to the condition of our waters, waste systems, and oceans. I therefore need to know how your ministry is engaging the IOCs on the cleanup of oil-polluted areas,” she added.

Responding, Minister Oyetola explained that oil-spill remediation falls primarily within the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Environment, while acknowledging the need for collaboration across government institutions.

“With regard to oil spillage, it is essentially an environmental matter and falls under the purview of the Ministry of Environment,” the minister said.

“However, it is not out of place for us to synergise with the Ministry of Environment.”

His response highlighted the overlapping responsibilities within Nigeria’s environmental governance framework, where marine protection, pollution control, and coastal resource management are shared among multiple ministries and regulatory agencies.

Policy analysts say the exchange reflects increasing legislative scrutiny of the federal government’s blue-economy agenda—an initiative aimed at expanding maritime trade, fisheries, coastal tourism, and ocean-based renewable energy, while safeguarding marine ecosystems.

The Niger Delta region, long affected by oil exploration and pollution, remains central to this debate. Environmental advocates argue that unresolved contamination and slow remediation efforts continue to erode livelihoods, biodiversity, and investor confidence in sustainable marine industries.

Tuesday’s session formed part of the National Assembly’s broader review of budgetary allocations to ministries and agencies within the marine transport sector ahead of the 2026 fiscal cycle. Lawmakers are expected to intensify oversight in the coming weeks, particularly on environmental compliance, coastal infrastructure, and maritime security.

A meaningful coordination among the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Ministry of Environment, and oil operators will be critical to translating policy ambition into ecological recovery and sustainable economic growth.

For coastal communities still grappling with decades of pollution, the outcome of such engagements may ultimately determine whether Nigeria’s blue economy vision delivers shared prosperity or remains constrained by unresolved environmental damage.