Nigeria To Submit Receivers’ Names To IOPC Fund

…As 7^th NSC Meeting Holds in Lagos

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The National Standing Committee (NSC) on International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund implementation in Nigeria has said Nigeria is upbeat about her plans to submit names of Contributing Oil Receivers to the IOPC Fund, to enable the organization have the right data to work with.

Secretary of the NSC, Mrs. Aishatu Jiddah who disclosed above during the 7^th meeting of the five (5) sub-committees of the NSC-IOPC Fund at Chesney Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos, Wednesday 18^th – Thursday 19^th May 2022, informed that the 6^th meeting of the same group held in March 2022, focused mainly on the review and approval of the organisation’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Jeddah expressed satisfaction about the immense work done by the Sub-Committees, including Nigeria’s commitment towards effective implementation of the IOPC Funds.

Jeddah who doubles as Director, Marine Environment Management Department, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMSA), in her welcome remark provided a review of the salient issues tabled during their 6^th meeting, and the specific roles assigned each of the five subcommittees.

She noted that as a member of the IOPC Fund, Nigeria cannot afford to be unconcerned about the international convention which she said has been domesticated by Nigeria.

Her statement reads: “Ladies and Gentlemen, you are invited to recall that Nigeria is a party to the International Convention for Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1992 and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage 1992.

“In a bid to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the Conventions which have been domesticated, the National Standing Committee (NSC) was constituted in September 2004 whilst the Five (5) Sub-Committees was constituted in October 2016.”

She further disclosed that since its constitution, the aforementioned Sub-Committees have held six (6) meetings, noting that the Communiqué and draft Report of the meetings have been forwarded to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in attendance.

“You are invited to note that the meetings of the Sub-Committees have most notably culminated in the review and approval of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by the IOPC Fund Secretariat, the development of an action plan for the implementation of the SOP and the implementation of the Terms of Reference of the Sub-Committees.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I would also like to use this opportunity to recognise the immense work done by the Sub-Committees of the NSC-IOPC Fund since their constitution and commend all our efforts towards ensuring the effective implementation of the IOPC Funds in Nigeria”, adding:

“To this end, I enjoin all present to ensure that we continue to work assiduously towards our mandate.”

According to her, the objective of the 7^th meeting is to deliberate on the resolutions reached at the 6^th Meeting.

Also speaking, Chairperson, Sub Committee on Pricing Index, Mrs. Oma Ofodile, expressed the belief  that sensitisation of oil receiving organisations would culminate in mass registration and contribution towards the IOPC Fund.

She observed that Nigeria being of the fourteen nations yet to submit reports of her receipts to the IOPC Fund Secretariat must act quickly to bridge the gap to avoid question mark on her reputation as oil receiving state.

“It is good we have a record as a contributing oil receiver and it is important because it is our obligation to ensure that we give the IOPC Fund the names of all contributing oil receivers in Nigeria.

“Nigeria is one of the fourteen countries that have not reported its receipts and it is an indictment to our commitment towards the cause”, she said.

Responding to the Chairperson’s worry, the Secretary NSC-IOPC Fund clarified that in line with organisational procedure; the Sub-Committees are expected to await the approval of relevant authorities before forwarding their reports.