NIGERIA: U.S. SCIENCE FELLOW PUTS HIS MARK ON EMERGENCY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001038

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR OES/STC FOR EKANE
DEPARTMENT FOR USEPA
BAGHDAD FOR DUNDAS MCCULLOUGH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG ECON TRGY KRVC TPHY NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: U.S. SCIENCE FELLOW PUTS HIS MARK ON EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AND OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND RECOVERY IN NIGERIA

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1. (U) Summary: 2009 U.S. Science Fellow and Environmental
Protection Agency's Federal on Scene Coordinator, Michael Solecki,
over a three-month period (January - April, 2009) helped the
Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),the Nigerian Oil Spills
Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA),and the Federal University
of Technology (FUT) in Minna, Niger State institute systemic and
positive changes that will shape their performance for years to
come. The U.S. collaboration with NOSDRA, NEMA, and FUT advanced
the U.S. Mission's objective of partnering with the Government of
Nigeria and others in protecting the Nigerian environment and
encouraging sustainable economic development. Mike Solecki's
dedication and hard work, eagerness and flexibility to adjust to
changing demands and priorities of the agencies he worked with,
positive attitude and friendly disposition, left a lasting and
positive impression of the U.S. with current and future leaders in
the three Nigerian institutions he worked with. End Summary.




The Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency
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2. (U) After 50 years of oil production and neglect, Nigeria's
oil-producing Niger Delta region suffers from severe oil pollution
and degradation as a result of deteriorating oil infrastructure and
frequent illegal pipeline tampering (bunkering). NOSDRA, the
Nigerian agency entrusted with oil spill prevention and recovery,
has very little capacity to respond to these challenges. To help
the agency respond more effectively to oil spills, the Mission
arranged for the U.S. Science Fellow to provide three weeks of
practical training in oil spills detection and clean-up and
restoration of affected areas to 62 Environmental Officers from
NOSDRA. Although most of these officers had backgrounds in
chemistry or engineering none had training in practical oil spills
detection and recovery methods and techniques. The U.S.-provided
training enabled these environmental officers to be certified as
emergency responders for oil spill recovery operations and
restoration of affected areas. The U.S. Science Fellow also trained
the agency's senior management in setting up and operationalizing a
national incident command system for oil spills and their recovery.
According to Dr. Bamidele Ajakaiye, Director General and Chief
Executive Officer of NOSDRA, the U.S.-sponsored capacity training
program will help enable his agency to set up such a system to
monitor and respond to oil spills throughout the country.
.
Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
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3. (U) At the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),
the U.S. Science Fellow provided three weeks of training on disaster
response management for 89 emergency responders drawn from across
the country. He also provided a three-day course on incident
management systems for the agency's leadership, and designed,
trained and oversaw a mass casualty exercise employing a simulated
aircraft crash, which involved over 500 participants from 28
agencies and private airlines. This first-ever national exercise
increased cohesion and performance among emergency responders and
was a major news item in the country's media. The Science Fellow
also assisted the Mission in designing a Voluntary Visitors Program
for the leadership of NEMA to learn from U.S. experience on
emergency management. (Note: The NEMA delegation headed by the
Director General returned on May 30 from a successful VV tour with
visits to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
headquarters in Washington, DC and the emergency management centers
of the cities of Chicago and New Orleans on May 30. End Note).


4. (U) Science Fellow Solecki also gave a major lecture on climate
change and adaptation strategies to over 300 students and faculty at
the Federal University of Technology (FUT) in Minna (Niger State)
and reviewed and provided comments to strengthen the university's
Disaster Risk Reduction curriculum. Based on this engagement, the
university is planning to offer a course in disaster management
starting next academic year. With assistance from the Mission's
Public Affairs Office, Solecki was interviewed on Nigeria's national
radio on oil spill detection and recovery strategies with community
support, bringing the message and U.S. support on environmental
protection to a nationwide audience.


5. (U) Comments: Thanks to a dedicated and flexible Science Fellow,
the Mission was able to introduce positive and systemic changes into
Nigeria's emergency preparedness and disaster response capabilities,
boost the country's ability to prevent oil spills and mitigate their
environmental impact, and raise awareness on climate change and
adaptation strategies, while at the same time fostering closer
relations with key agencies, institutions, and the public. The

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Mission has requested a Science Fellow for 2010 to build on these
achievements and reach out to other Nigerian entities. End
Comment.


6. Consulate Lagos has cleared on this cable.

SANDERS