Nigeria Senate passes bill to increase oil spill penalties

The Nigerian Senate has passed the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The legislation seeks to amend the existing 2006 Act to grant the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) enhanced powers to enforce environmental regulations within the petroleum sector.

Key provisions of the bill include the introduction of heavier fines and criminal sanctions for oil spills and other environmental violations. Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno stated that current penalties have proven insufficient to deter offenders, leading to persistent environmental degradation.

The amendment specifically aims to protect the livelihoods of residents in the Niger Delta and other oil-producing regions, where pollution has significantly impacted fishing and farming activities. By establishing criminal liability for spills that damage the environment and deprive citizens of their means of livelihood, the bill intends to boost NOSDRA’s enforcement capacity and improve industry compliance.