A number of management measures to prevent and respond to oil spill already exist in various countries including Nigeria. Different policies and mechanics are being put in place to avert or react to oil spill episodes with the policies usually aimed at giving structure to oil production and exploration activities oforganisations laying ground rules with regards to oilspill incidents (Salu, 1999). A few of the communal laws and universal understandings in place suggested by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Department of Petroleum Resources to help protect the environment particularly from activities resulting in pollution by oil companies include
a. Endangered Species Decree Cap 108 LFN 1990,
b. Federal Environmental protection Agency Act Cap 131 LFN 1990,
c. Harmful Waste Cap 165 LFN 1990,
d. Petroleum (Drilling and Production) Regulations, 1969,
e. Mineral Oil (Safety) Regulations, 1963,
f. International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971,
g. Convention on the Prevention of Marine pollution Damage,1972,
h. African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources,1968,
i. International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for the Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971.Other acts and regulations in line with controlling oil spillage as suggested by (Oshineye,2000)
include:
i)The Mineral Oil (Safety) Regulations 1963, focuses on safety in the emission of inflammable gases and impose punishments for violation and defiance.
ii) Petroleum Regulations 1967, that is against the emission of fossil oil into waters within port areas and makes available precautionary measures in the conveyance of petroleum and guidelines for safe operation of lines.
iii) Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulation 1969, that requires holders of production licence to safety, including the provision of current approved equipment to prevent contamination of midland waters, river water courses, the territorial waters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the high seas by oil or other fluids.
iv) Oil in Navigable Waters Act 1968, which prohibits the emission of petroleum or any mixture containing oil into the territorial reserve or navigable inland waters.
v) Oil Terminal Dues Act 1969, that precludes the emission of oil to regions in the main land where oil terminals are located.
vi) Petroleum Refining Regulations 1974, which besides other activities deals with necessary development requirements for stockpiling oil tanks to reduce harm from spillage.
vii) Associated Gas Re-Injection Act 1979 that enforces the re-infusion of such cohorted gas or oil not used in a streamlined venture. This is to eliminate gas flaring.
viii) Oil Pipeline Act 1956 (as amended by Oil pipelines Act 1965) which kicks against the contamination of all areas including waters bodies.
The Federal e Ministry of the Environment is legitimately vested with the obligation of ensuring and maintaining the Nigerian environment through definition and usage of administrative policies. The National Policy on the Environment contains one of the instruments created by the body to accomplish its tasks, depicting the rules and methods for attaining the objective of ecological assurance (Ntukekpo, 1996).Because of the rate of oil spill episodes and need to forestall and react to oil slicks in Nigeria, the Clean Nigeria Associates (C.N.A.) came into existence in November 1981. The C.N.A. is an association of eleven oil producing organizations working in Nigeria, including N.N.P.C. The basic role of making the C.N.A is to keep up competence in the battle against spilling of liquid hydrocarbons or toxins by and large. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decree No 86 of 1992 was declared to secure and manage the biological community. This decree makes EIA obligatory for any extensive oil venture that may have antagonistic consequences on the environment (Ntukekpo, 1996; Olagoke, 1996).The decree came into existence to oversee production activities of organisations that may distort the natural existence of environments inhabited by people, encouraging and implementing laid down policies. It endeavors’ to survey the presumable or potential ecological effects of proposed exercises, including their immediate or collateral, combined, fleeting and long haul impacts, and to distinguish the measures accessible to alleviate antagonistic natural effects of proposed exercises, and evaluation of these measures. The rules made accommodation for seaward operations, security measures, fulfilling obligations and required payments (Ozekhome, 2001).Additionally in the situation of overseeing oil slick incidents, the Federal Governmentof Nigeria has noted that future boring rights will be “strictly decided by” organizations’ecological consistence, notwithstanding their producing a natural environmental effect appraisal for the proposed site. In July 2002, the Nigerian government requested oil organizations working in the nation to follow the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Oil Industry, distributed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the screening arm of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), or face the consequence of paying a fine. The rules brought about standards to reducing contamination from oil spills and methods for ecological protection. Also, new innovation are being utilized in managing incidents of oil slicks. A few of the engineering solutions used in overseeing oil slick in addition to other bylaws include;
Bioremediation approach: Bioremediation is an approach that may be helpful in evacuating spilled oil under certain geographic and climatic conditions. Bioremediation is a demonstrated elective management apparatus that could be utilized to treat certain vigorous oil-defiled situations. Ordinarily, it is utilized as a cleaning agent after routine mechanical clean-up alternatives have been carried out. It is a moderately abate methodology, taking weeks or months to complete clean up. In the event that its done appropriately, it might be exceptionally savvy, in spite of the fact that an in-profundity budgetary examination has not been led to date. It has the upper hand that the dangerous hydrocarbon mixtures are obliterated instead of basically moving them to a different area of the environment. (Nwilo and Badejo, 2004)
International Co-operation: Apprehending smugglers has remained nearly impossible, since numerous individuals blame the central government for pocketing a significant part of the oil fortune, and the oil organizations of looting indigenous resources while forsaking the Delta people to contamination, destitution, unemployment and malady. To shore up the battle against illegal oil dealers in Nigeria, the US has given three 56 meter (180ft) refitted World War two-time watch oats to the naval force with another alternate four vessels to be conveyed by December, as stated by the United Nations. The Pentagon is financing the restoration each vessel to the tune of $3.5m. (Nwilo and Badejo, 2004)
Mechanical Containment: There are several instruments used as response mechanisms to control oil spills and minimize their impacts on human health and environment. These instruments include booms and barriers, skimmers, natural and synthetic sorbents materials. (Badejo et al 2003)
Booms: Booms are used in the clean-up process and are constructed as solid-floatation unit. There are containment booms and storage reels for quick response and containment after a spill. Booms are built from a variety of marine grade materials that can handle constant exposure and use in water locations. Oil absorbent booms are
designed to specifically absorb oil in both land and water based locations. (Badejo etal 2003) Skimmers: Skimmers are items that are designed for the recovery of oil and can be used for both clean up in both inshore and offshore areas. Skimmers are often used in conjunction with booms. A skimmer is a device that collects and removes oil from the surface of the water. Skimmers can be towed, self-propelled, moored in river currents, or even used from shore. Many types of skimmers are available for use, depending on the kind of oil spilled and the weather conditions. (Adelana, Adeosun, Adesina, &Ojuroye 2011)
Chemical and biological methods: These are methods that are used together with the mechanical means for containment and clean up of oil. These include dispersing and gelling agents that are useful in preventing oil from reaching shorelines and sensitive habitats. The biological agents that are used help in the recovery of shorelines, marshes and wetlands.(Egberongbe Nwilo & Badejo 2006)
Physical methods: These are applied to clean up shorelines when oil spills spread over. There is the application of natural methods such as evaporation, oxidation and biodegradation that can be used to startup the clean-up process. However, these methods are mainly too slow for environmental recovery therefore there is application of physical processes applied to assist the natural processes.
These include; wiping with sorbent materials, pressure washing, and raking and bulldozing can be used to assist these natural processes. (Adelana et al 2011). Remediation is a longer-term process aimed at returning the site to its previous state. There are several ways to achieve international standards of restoration depending on whether the spill is on Land or Swamp terrain. Three methods of Remediation are in use on Land-Remediation by Enhanced Natural Attenuation (RENA), Remediation by Stabilization/Solidification and Low Temperature Thermal Desorption. The RENA technique is the predominant method in use and may be applied in-situ, which implies treating the soil on site or ex-situ; removing the soil to be cleaned elsewhere and returned site. After completion of the remediation process, the site is handed over for closeout inspection and certification by the relevant Government agencies. The entire spill response process is governed by performance standards, as prescribed by Nigerian Law, in particular as defined in the DPR EGASPIN2002. This standard is applied to all spills, regardless of the cause. (Shell International 2014)