Oil spill offenders face jail terms as Reps consider bill

The House of Representatives has begun reviewing a bill proposing stricter penalties, including imprisonment, for oil spill offenses, just 24 hours after the Senate approved the legislation and forwarded it to the House for agreement. A source within the National Assembly's Clerk's Office communicated this information exclusively to The PUNCH.

According to the source, the NOSDRA Establishment Act 2006, which the bill aims to amend, has been sent to the House for concurrence. The House has already passed the bill for its first reading, the initial stage of legislative evaluation. Titled the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the legislation seeks to strengthen the agency's enforcement capabilities and introduce harsher penalties for environmental violations.

The Senate passed the bill after its Environment Committee endorsed the report, acknowledging the need for more robust sanctions to deter oil companies and other operators from flouting regulations. The bill's Chairman, Olubiyi Fadeyi, and the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, both supported the proposed amendments, citing the detrimental impact of oil spills on vulnerable communities and the environment.

Monguno emphasized that current fines are insufficient to dissuade offenders and called for stiffer penalties, including criminal liability for significant environmental damage. The Senate subsequently discussed the bill clause by clause, approved all 12 provisions, and passed it in its plenary session. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, lauded the committee's efforts and applauded NOSDRA for the enhanced enforcement powers outlined in the legislation.

Before it can be presented to the President for approval, the bill must clear the necessary legislative process, including House concurrence.