By Bariton Lezabbey

The Bodo Mediation Initiative (BMI) on Wednesday, 24 November 2021, facilitated SCAT training for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), a part of the Federal Ministry of Environment dedicated to undertaking remediation in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta. Participants included representatives from HYPREP, selected oil-impacted communities across Ogoni, NGO groups, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and Rivers State Ministry of Environment (RSMENV).

SCAT is a systematic method for surveying impacted shorelines and sensitive environments using standardized methods to document shoreline oiling conditions. It is an internationally accepted oil spill assessment process that originated during the response to the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. It was first deployed for the Bodo Cleanup Project in May 2015 and continues as the backbone to guide all cleanup and assessment activities of the Project.

UNEP Visits Bodo Project Area

During the in-class training, the BMI SCAT Leader, Mr. Nicholas Story took the participants through the background of SCAT and its importance to incorporating multi-stakeholders in the decision-making process. He highlighted the field assessment and the verification procedures adopted for the Bodo Project. Dr. Erich Gundlach, the BMI Project Director, further buttressed the need for data management and sharing as key components of the SCAT process to ensure transparency and support by involved stakeholders. The training was interactive as participants asked questions on the science and methodology of SCAT and the ingredients for successful mangrove revegetation. On-site training will be undertaken shortly to reinforce the methods discussed.

The BMI is pleased to share lessons learned during the Bodo Remediation and Revegetation Project for wider implementation across the Niger Delta.