Section 19: Federal Government Intervention, Etc.

(1) The Agency shall:
(a) in the event of a major or disastrous oil spill, in collaboration with other Agencies co-opt, undertake and supervise, all those provisions as set out in the Second Schedule to this Act; (Second schedule)
(b) assess the extent of damage to the ecology by matching conditions following the spill against what existed before (reference baseline data and ESI maps);
(c) undertake a post-spill impact assessment to determine the extent and intensity of damage and long term effects;
(d) advise the Federal and State Governments on possible effects on the health of the people and ensure that appropriate remedial action is taken for the restoration and compensation of the environment;
(e) assist in mediating between affected communities and the oil spiller;
(f) monitor the response effort during an emergency, with a view to ensuring full compliance with existing legislation on such matters;
(g) assess any damage caused by an oil spillage;
(h) expeditiously process and grant approval for any request made to it by an oil spiller for the use of approved dispersant or the application of any other technology considered vital in ameliorating the effect of an oil spill;
(i) advise and guide the response efforts as to ensure the protection of highly sensitive areas, habitats and the salvation of endangered or threatened wild life; and
(j) monitor the clean-up operations to ensure full rehabilitation of the affected areas.
(2) The Agency shall act as the Lead Agency for all matters relating to oil spills response management and liaise with the other Agencies for the implementation of the plan, as contained in the Second Schedule. (Second schedule)
(3) The Agency shall:
(a) co-operate with an oil spiller in the determination of appropriate measures to prevent excessive damage to the environment and the communities;
(b) expeditiously consider any proposal made for response effort by the oil spiller;
(c) mobilize internal resources and also assist to obtain any outside human and financial resources that may be required to combat any oil spill; and
(d) assist in the assessment of damage caused by an oil spillage.
(4) Notwithstanding the functions of the Agency set out under this Act the specified Federal Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, Parastatals and other bodies mentioned herein shall be charged with the following responsibilities set out under this Section as provided in the second schedule to this Act.