By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has confirmed that an oil spill occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) loading terminal, SMI, in Bonny, Rivers State, over the weekend after a ruptured pipeline.
NIMASA disclosed that though the spill has reached the shoreline, SPDC has promptly shut down the affected pipeline and deployed containment booms to protect the neighbouring communities.
In a statement from its Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, NIMASA said it was actively monitoring the situation from an emergency operations center, in collaboration with SPDC and other relevant stakeholders, to assess the extent of the spill and determine necessary follow-up actions.
It further urged members of the public to remain calm, saying it was committed to mitigating the impact of the spill and restoring affected areas.
