The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill seeking to strengthen the enforcement powers of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), introducing tougher fines and criminal penalties for oil spill violations.

The bill, known as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed after the Senate adopted the report of its Committee on Environment.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the NOSDRA Establishment Act, 2006, by providing a stronger legal framework for imposing adequate fines and criminal sanctions on those responsible for oil pollution in the petroleum sector.

Presenting the committee’s report, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, said the amendment was necessary to address persistent environmental pollution, particularly in the Niger Delta.

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, who represents Borno North, noted that oil spills had continued to devastate the environment and undermine the livelihoods of residents in oil-producing communities.

He said the pollution had severely affected fishing and farming activities, leaving many residents struggling to sustain their means of livelihood.

According to Monguno, the existing penalties for oil spill violations had not been sufficient to deter offenders, making stricter sanctions necessary.

“The fines are not deterrent enough to deter offenders,” he told the Senate, adding that the proposed amendment would introduce criminal liability for oil spills that damage the environment and deprive communities of their sources of livelihood.

Following the presentation, the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the bill clause by clause.

The lawmakers subsequently approved Clauses 1 to 12, including the short title, explanatory memorandum and long title of the bill.

Upon returning to plenary, the Senate read the bill for the third time and passed it.

The legislation is expected to strengthen NOSDRA’s enforcement capacity and provide a more robust legal framework for addressing oil spill incidents and environmental violations across the country.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Committee on Environment for its work on the bill and congratulated NOSDRA on the additional powers the proposed legislation seeks to confer on the agency.