The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has pledged to strengthen collaboration with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to enhance public awareness of environmental safety in Kwara.

The Kwara director of NOA, Yakubu Abubakar, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin during a working visit to the zonal office of NOSDRA.

Mr Abubakar said the engagement was aimed at deepening cooperation between the two agencies and bridging the gap between technical environmental monitoring and grassroots sensitisation.

He said NOA would continue to rely on the expertise of specialised agencies like NOSDRA to provide accurate and actionable information to communities.

“Our goal is to ensure that NOA remains a reliable channel for disseminating verified information.

“To do that effectively, we must continuously tap into the specialised knowledge of agencies like NOSDRA, which operate at the frontline of environmental risk detection,” he said.

The director said NOA’s mandate included promoting national consciousness, ethical values and access to factual information, especially in an era of growing misinformation.

He added that the agency needed to better understand environmental issues to effectively sensitise communities.

Responding, the zonal head of NOSDRA, Adeyinka Williams, commended NOA for seeking closer collaboration in environmental management.

Mr Williams said the partnership would support public understanding of oil spill detection and response, adding that even minor spills could pose risks to the environment and human health.

He urged NOA to use its grassroots network to promote the prompt reporting of unusual oil sheen, odour or changes in the environment.

“Early detection is our first line of defence. When communities are empowered with the right knowledge, they become our eyes and ears on the ground,” he said.

Mr Williams said timely reporting by communities could help prevent environmental damage and improve response efforts. 

(NAN)