NMDPRA Warns Oil, Gas Operators Of Impending Flood In Ogun, Lagos
The Ogun State Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Dr Simeon Atilola, on Thursday stressed the need for operators in the oil and gas business to take proactive measures to protect their investments, safeguard life and ensure energy security in the face of an impending flood.
According to him, the meeting became necessary following the flood alert and forecast from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, which predicted that not fewer than 15 areas stretching from Ogun to Lagos will witness flooding in the coming days.
He explained that flooding negatively impacts oil and gas stations and could sometimes cause spillages, environmental degradation, disruption in energy security and even lead to avoidable loss of life.
Atilola said that the agency understands the invaluable contributions of the oil and gas sector to the economy, hence the need to engage with the operators and chart the way forward to mitigate the effects of the coming flooding
He explained, “It is no longer news that at about this time of the year, some dams from the northern part of the country would be open as a result of the River Niger that would be overflowing, and this water will cascade down to the southern part, and one of the states to be affected is Ogun.
“About 15 areas in the state have been identified as potential communities to be affected. They are, Isheri, Magboro, Akute, Ifo, Iro, Kajola, Orumerunmu, Alagbole, Makogi, Lafenwa, Enugada, Akin Olugbade, Iberekodo, Ago Odo and so on.
“All these areas are flood-prone. Our coming together is to safeguard our life, our investment, our environment and ensure that there’s energy security, that is to ensure that supply and distribution of petroleum products and gas is not hindered.
“One of our mandates is to ensure that product supply is not impacted. The essence is to brainstorm on the potential of the backlash of the flood. One of the dangers is spillages, the life and environment being affected, likewise, the transport around the area.
“We may not be able to totally avert the impending flood but we can reduce the impact by curbing spillages into the environment and safeguarding our economy. All of these could be done with collaboration with all the stakeholders in the industry.”
Speaking during the meeting, a former Secretary of IPMAN, Alhaji Sodiq Mahmud, lauded NMDPRA for organising the engagement, saying that it only goes to show that the agency prioritises the well-being of their business and not just the revenue which they collect for the government.
Mahmud said that the engagement has further enlightened them on the importance of the flood alert and why they all must also take proactive measures to safeguard life and ensure that the flood impact on their businesses is drastically mitigated, if it can not be averted.
The Secretary of IPMAN, Lagos State, Alhaji Akeem Balogun, also hailed the NMDPRA for the stakeholders’ engagement initiative, pledging that the leaders of the union would go back home and disseminate the safety measures to their members.
Meanwhile, the stakeholders, at the end of the engagement, agreed to set up a flood response team that can be activated to provide necessary support during the impending flood.
Reading the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Head of Distribution System, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, NMDPRA said, “At this stakeholders’ engagement meeting with Oil and Gas stakeholders in Ogun and Lagos, there is an agreement to set up a flood response team
“There is also an agreement to set up a communication channel between the public, the stakeholders and regulators for enhanced communication during the flooding challenge
“We also agree on a time-out for the operation during the period of flooding. The standard procedure must also be strictly adhered to, and so all tanks should be strapped
“All the affected areas must equally come back to NMDPRA for recommissioning before they start working again after the flooding.”
Recall that on Monday, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, in a flood alert released urged residents living in riverbank and wetland areas such as Akute, Alagbole, Isheri, Magboro, Makogi, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola and part of Abeokuta, specifically Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo to prepare for overflow of Ogun River in the next two weeks, from the 20th of October to the 3rd of November.
Oresanya said that the overflow from the Ogun River would rise as a result of the controlled release of water from Oyan Dam due to heavy rainfall from up-north that would increase the volume of water reaching the Dam from that part of the country, which would be compounded by an increase in tidal level.
The increase in the water flow into the dam, according to the Commissioner, would inevitably force the release of water from the dam that would affect the areas, accordingly, urging residents of the areas to exercise caution and avoid loss of lives and property within the period.
Oresanya further emphasised the need for residents of the areas to avoid the riverbank, while those in the wetlands should move to higher grounds or vacate their stay for now, as the overflow becomes inevitable.